Though it took a while for it to kick in, Rory McIlroy has certainly caught the Olympic bug in recent years.
The Northern Irishman was one of the golfers who did not travel to Rio in 2016, with the reason given a concern about the prevalence of the Zika virus in Brazil at the time.
However, in the years since Rio, McIlroy has spoken about his changed perspective on the Olympics, saying that his near miss of a medal in Tokyo made him realise how special the games are.
Having missed out on a bronze in a seven-way playoff in Japan three years ago, McIlroy is gunning to add an Olympic medal to his collection in Paris this weekend.
McIlroy and Shane Lowry took to the course on Tuesday morning to play nine holes of Le Golf National. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, McIlroy suggested a major format change to the golf tournament ahead of LA 2028.
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Rory McIlroy wants Olympic golf organisers to get "imaginative" with format
For the second Olympic games in a row, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry will fly the flag for Ireland in the men's golf.
Though the pair are close friends and have spoken about their positive teamwork in the past, the format of the competition requires the pair to compete as individuals.
30 July 2024; Rory McIlroy of Team Ireland watches his drive from the third tee box with team-mate Shane Lowry during a practice round ahead of the men's golf singles at Le Golf National during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Rory McIlroy hinted that he would like to see the golf tournament become a team event in years to come at the Olympics.
The four-time Major champion said that he felt an "imaginative" change to team play would increase the allure of golf at the Olympics. McIlroy also said that he would "love" the chance to team up with Lowry once again at an Olympics.
I think as the years go on and golf becomes a mainstay in the Olympic Games it'll mean more and more each time.
Shane and I have teamed up really well in the past, especially at the Zurich Classic this year. I’d love for that to be part of the Games.
A mixed team event has been thrown around as well. We play so much individual stroke play that it would be nice to come here and do something a little bit different and a little more imaginative.
Maybe in LA next time there might be something along those lines which I think all of us would really look forward to.
It would certainly be a bold move.
Reports suggest that the IOC will meet next year to decide on the potential introduction of a mixed team event for LA 2028. Tokyo 2020 champion Xander Schauffele will represent the US again in Paris this summer - and he has a different stance to McIlroy's on the proposed change.
Speaking this week, Schauffele said he feared the touted change could drive golfers away from the Olympics.
I think having a match-play event would be king of weird...with the co-sex play, I'm a big advocate of 'don't knock it until you try it.' My only issue with it would be sort of the run of events, it being two weeks in a row.
If you take it for what we have now, we are playing this tournament, we have one week off, and then we have three weeks in a row for our playoffs.
It would be sticky to do two tournaments in a row and, because of that, you may lose some guys.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have run well in their previous outings as teammates, winning the Ryder Cup last year in Rome and taking victory as partners in the Zurich Classic earlier this year.
The image of McIlroy and Lowry sharing an Olympic medal is certainly a magic one. No doubt that fans would be happy to see even one of them taking home some sort of silverware from Paris this weekend.
The men's golf tournament gets underway at the Olympics on Thursday morning.
SEE ALSO: Olympic Medals For Ireland - A County By County Breakdown
