Rio Games Official Says No Prize Money Reason Male Golfers Withdrew

Rio Games Organizing Committee President Carlos Nuzman said that the world's top four male golfers – Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth – have "withdrawn from the games because there is no money to be won" and "not because of the Zika virus." Nuzman: "They tried to blame Zika, but the media have shown that they are not coming because there's no prize money." He added, "Zika is much worse in Florida than in Brazil, and golfers are playing in Florida" (AP, 7/17).

Meanwhile, "another top-10 tennis player," Wimbledon semifinalist Tomas Berdych, on Saturday withdrew from the Games "over concerns about the Zika virus" (AP, 7/16).