Friday 1 July 2016 19:34, UK
Rory McIlroy has defended players’ decisions to pull out of contention for the 2016 Rio Olympics, claiming golf will still get top players competing in future Games.
The world No 4 announced last week he will not head to Brazil due to concerns over the Zika virus, while Jason Day and Shane Lowry confirmed on Tuesday they were joining the growing group not making themselves available for selection.
Jordan Spieth has admitted he is still unsure as to whether he would play from August 11-14, with Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace also on the list of withdrawals.
Speaking ahead of the 100th Open de France, McIlroy denied suggestions that golf has been embarrassed by the number of big-name withdrawals and feels things would be different had the Games been based in a different location.
"As a tool to grow the game around the world, I think it's great," McIlroy said. "Some people argue it would have been better to send amateurs there, but the whole reason that golf is in the Olympics is because they want the best players to go and compete.
"Unfortunately with where it is this year, people just aren't comfortable going down there and putting themselves or their family at risk.
"I'd say if the Olympics were in most other cities or most other countries in the world you wouldn't have as many people not wanting to go and participate."
Rory McIlroy tees off alongside home-favourite Victor Dubuisson and Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello for the opening two rounds at Le Golf National, where eight of the world's top 50 are in action.
Four more Open qualifying places are available for the leading four players who finish in the top 12 and aren't already in the field for Royal Troon, while double points are available in the race to qualify for Europe's Ryder Cup side.
Masters champion Danny Willett is also in the field this week, with the world No 9 keen to build on an early exit at last week's BMW International Open in Germany.
"Some people say I've had a bit of a dip since the Masters, but it depends what you class a lull as," Willett said. "The US Open was tough, but I finished third at Wentworth and was leading in Ireland until the last day, so it hasn't been too bad.
"I haven't won but have only played four tournaments and got into contention in two of them, so everything's relative.
"It's been a while since I had the weekend off, but maybe it's what I needed after a long stretch. It's a busy schedule coming up, so a bit of respite so perhaps it wasn't the end of the world."
Watch the Open de France throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Thursday at 9.30am.
