World No. 1 Jason Day pulls out of Rio Olympics, cites Zika virus concers
The No. 1 player in the world, Jason Day, is the latest to withdraw from consideration from the Olympics
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Jason Day is the latest golfer to withdraw his name from consideration for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, citing concerns over the Zika virus.
"It is with deep regret I announce that I will not be competing in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games this coming August in Rio de Janeiro. The reason for my decision is my concerns about the possible transmission of the Zika virus and the potential risks that it may present to my wife's future pregnancies and to future members of our family. I have always placed my family in front of everything else in my life. Medical experts have confirmed that while perhaps slight, a decision to compete in Rio absolutely comes with health risks to me and to my family. My wife Ellie and I have been blessed with two wonderful and healthy children and our plan is to have more. While it has always been a major goal to compete in the Olympics on behalf of my country, playing golf cannot take precedent over the safety of our family. Will not place them at risk. I have informed Coach Ian Baker-Finch and Stephen Pitt, the CEO of Golf Australia, of my difficult decision. I hope all golf and Olympics fans respect and understand my position. In closing, I would like to thank all of those who have supported me throughout my career and extend my best wishes to all participants. Especially the entire Australian Olympic Team as they pursue their dreams in Rio de Janeiro."
Day joins the likes of Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen as members of the world top 15 to pull out of the Olympics this year. Day's absence will be a blow to both the appeal of the Olympics as a whole, being that he's the No. 1 player in the world, and to the Australian team that has already seen Scott and Marc Leishman (No. 39 in the world) pull out.
The news of Day's withdrawal from the Olympics comes just days after an IOC member suggested that golf should not be an Olympic sport if the best players in the world won't commit. Now, the best player in the world has decided not to play, which certainly won't help when it comes time for the IOC to vote next year whether to keep golf beyond 2020.
