Jordan Spieth explains why he regrets not playing in the 2016 Rio Olympics

Spieth and Rory McIlroy both said the Olympics were better than they assumed it would be

When Jordan Spieth made the decision to skip the 2016 Rio Olympics, he knew what he was getting into. He knew he would probably regret it, but for whatever reason, he still went forward with it. On Wednesday at The Barclays, Spieth explained himself.

"At the time [it was the right decision]," said Spieth. "I watched it. I really enjoyed it. It came off I thought tremendous for the game. I enjoyed watching the finish to the Olympics, and I wished I was there. At the time I made the decision, it was the right decision for me. And I told you guys in that press conference, it was the hardest thing I've had to do. The potential for regret was going to be there and it certainly was while I was watching. That's why I tweeted out, 'I'm looking forward to setting it as a goal to be there in 2020.'"

I presume this was the attitude of most of the top players who skipped. Rory McIlroy certainly sang a different tune on Wednesday than he did last month at The Open Championship.

"Obviously it pleasantly surprised me," said McIlroy on Wednesday. "There was more people at the golf events than there was at the athletics. It was good to see. It really was. It seems like it was a great atmosphere down there.

"As I said, it was nice to be proven wrong somewhat in terms of, like, I thought golf was sort of going to get lost a little bit. It was away from the village; I thought it was going to ... sort of blend in with everything else and be, not forgotten about, but just one of a lot of sports that are there obviously. But to see the crowds and see the turnout, I was glad to be somewhat proven wrong."

Spieth added that the videos Rickie Fowler was sending him was making him a bit jealous.

"The passion that everyone was displaying; the videos I was getting from Rickie of all the guys and just how much fun everybody was having on and off the golf course," said Spieth. "The golf course was beautiful, and then the Olympic glory at the end of it. The combination of just about everything. I thought of it as the hype of a major championship as from a player's perspective watching."

Strong words from two of the players who were in the spotlight for skipping. I don't begrudge their choices. There was a lot going on outside the fields, courses and arenas in Rio de Janeiro (see: Lochte, Ryan), but I have a feeling both will make every effort they can to be in Tokyo for 2020.