Friday 3 June 2016 23:07, UK
Jason Day has admitted he is considering pulling out of the Olympic Games due to the risk of contracting the Zika virus in Rio.
Charl Schwartzel revealed that concerns over the virus directly led to his decision to pull out of the tournament, echoing the reasons given by Marc Leishman when he followed fellow Australian Adam Scott in announcing he would not be travelling to Brazil.
Rory McIlroy has also expressed reservations over competing in golf's first appearance at the Olympics for 112 years, and the tournament could now be missing the current world No 1 as father-of-two Day considers the impact on his family.
Day had previously stated it would be a "massive honour" to win a gold medal for his country, but he is now keeping his options open having read about baseball star Francisco Rodriguez, who was struck down by the Zika virus in his native Venezuela and revealed he was feeling the effects of the illness for two months.
"It's difficult to say right now," said the Aussie during The Memorial. "We're just really trying to monitor what's going on because we're not done having kids. I don't want to have to bring anything back and have the possibility of that happening to us. Obviously, it can happen here. But if you put yourself down there, there's a chance of you getting it.
"I don't think it's an Olympic issue, and I don't think it's a Rio issue. I just think it's a medical issue attached to what happens if I go there, get it and bring it back. You don't know how long it's going to last in your body. So I'm a little wary about it. I've just got to make a smart, educated decision whether to go or not.
"We have to see an independent doctor, not just a PGA Tour doctor. I'm not saying there's bias, I'm just saying we need independent advice. I think there are a lot of guys on the fence about it because they don't want to put themselves in harm's way."
South African Schwartzel announced in April that he would not be competing in Rio, and he has now admitted the risk of contracting the Zika virus was not worth taking for a man with a young family.
"If I didn't want to have children, or if I was single, I'd play. It's as simple as that," said Schwartzel, who fully expects many other top professionals to skip the tournament.
"You can hear the guys mumbling about it, it's definitely stuck in their heads and I would go so far as to say anyone going is not comfortable going. I think it's a worry for them. It's a choice. If it was anywhere else, I'd play. I'd love to play in the Olympics."
