Rory McIlroy withdraws from 2016 Olympics over Zika threat

Rory McIlroy has dealt the biggest blow yet to golf in the Summer Olympics by announcing he will not compete in the games in Rio due to fears of contracting the Zika virus.

“After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to withdraw my name from consideration for this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,” McIlroy said in a statement on Wednesday. “After speaking with those closest to me, I’ve come to realize that my health and my family’s health comes before anything else. Even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take.”

Others, including Jason Day and Jordan Spieth, have expressed concern about the virus, which causes birth defects in newborns and has been linked with such adult diseases as Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The Olympic Council of Ireland responded to the loss of its biggest star from the games by saying in a statement it was “extremely disappointed” to lose McIlroy for the competition, but “respect his decision.”

The International Golf Federation, in a statement, said it was “unfortunate” to lose Rory from the event, “knowing how much he was looking forward to taking part.”

Ty Votaw, IGF vice president and EVP and chief marketing officer of the PGA Tour, also expressed his regret about McIlroy skipping Rio.

“It’s certainly something that we respect Rory’s decision but it is disappointing,” Votaw said on Golf Channel Wednesday morning.

McIlroy, who missed the cut at last week’s U.S. Open, continued that he “trust[s] the Irish people will understand my decision. The unwavering support I receive every time I compete in a golf tournament at home or abroad means the world to me. I will continue to endeavor to make my fans and fans of golf proud with my play on the course and my actions off it.”

The world’s fourth-ranked golfer joins other high-profile players, including 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott and 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who won’t participate in the games for scheduling reasons as well as Zika fears. We said when Scott bowed out of golf’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 that other big names were likely to follow and McIlroy’s decision may open the floodgates for other withdrawals.

Shane Lowry, the 54-hole leader at Oakmont, becomes Ireland’s top player heading into the August games.