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Jordan Spieth's Rio Olympics Refusal Sparks Claim Of Zika Overreaction

Int'l Golf Federation President Peter Dawson accused his sport’s leading players of "overreaction" regarding the zika virus threat after U.S. golfer Jordan Spieth "became the latest to withdraw from the Olympics," according to Ewan Murray of the London GUARDIAN. Spieth’s decision means that "none of the world’s top four ranked players and six of the leading 10 will not appear when golf returns to the Games this summer following a 112-year absence." Dawson said, "We have invested a huge amount of time and effort on player education and they’ve had no lack of opportunity, I think, to make their own well-informed decisions about what they want to do. It’s certainly disappointing that we’ve had so many withdrawals on the men’s side and wonderful that all of the women have been very supportive. I think I should say now that I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to discuss individual cases, especially as they’re generally decisions that have been taken on health grounds. Speaking collectively though, there is no doubt that the number of withdrawals hasn’t shed golf in the best light." In response to a subsequent question over how susceptible golfers may be to zika, which is transmitted via mosquitoes, Dawson replied with "more than a touch" of sarcasm, "I take great heart from the fact we haven’t lost a greenkeeper yet" (GUARDIAN, 7/12). The PA reported more than 20 male players "have now opted out of competing in Rio." So far, South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace "is the only female player to withdraw." IGF VP Ty Votaw said, "At the end of the day what will ultimately be our best case for any discussion on any level will be the competitions themselves." Dawson admitted it was technically possible that women's golf could remain in the Olympics if men's golf was left out, but felt that was "unlikely" (PA, 7/12).

NO GUARANTEES
: In London, James Corrigan wrote the IOC’s response "will be intriguing when it reviews the situation next year." Golf "is assured of being in the 2020 Games in Tokyo, but Dawson acknowledged that there is no guarantee for 2024 and onwards." He agreed with the possibility that the women’s event may remain but the men’s event may not, although he considered this "unlikely." The IOC "could wait until after Tokyo to make a decision and, perhaps with this is mind, Dawson urged the players to attend in four years’ time." Dawson said, "I’m hoping that when we come to play in 2020 that the top players do support Olympic golf" (TELEGRAPH, 7/11). In a separate piece, Corrigan wrote Rory McIlroy "delivered a withered putdown" of golf’s return to the Olympics, saying he would not even watch the tournament at Rio but "the stuff that matters" instead. It "was difficult to see McIlroy’s extraordinary comments as anything other than a response" to Dawson. As well as "shining light on golf’s credibility as an Olympic sport, McIlroy also criticised the drug policy on the professional Tours for not blood-testing and, hence, not being tough enough." McIlroy said, "I don't feel like I've let the game down at all. I didn't get into golf to try and grow the game. I got into golf to win championships and win major championships, and all of a sudden you get to this point and there is a responsibility on you to grow the game. ... I got into golf to win. I didn't get into golf to get other people into the game" (TELEGRAPH, 7/12).

'SOFT EXCUSE': In Sydney, Iain Payten wrote Australia's top women’s golf official "hopes the absence of most of the top male golfers from the 2016 Rio Games won’t kill off the sport in the Olympics." Australian Ladies Professional Golf Association CEO Karen Lund "bemoaned money as big motivator for many of the world’s top male golf stars." With broadcasters having a big say in what ratings-grabbing sports make the Olympic roster, Lund said that "she hopes absent male superstars in Rio won’t see enthusiastic female golfers become casualties as well." Lund said, "You would hope not. It is great that the women have embraced it, and let’s hope that’s enough to see golf survive as an Olympic sport after Tokyo." Lund said that while the zika virus may be a legitimate concern for some, it "was a soft excuse for others." She said, "In some cases it probably was valid but my personal opinion is, perhaps, it was just an easy way out for some of them. ... A lot of the girls have been quoted saying, 'If I won a Gold Medal it would be right up there with my majors, perhaps more important.' In general, I think the women do have a greater sense of duty and put in more away from the golf course for their sport. For the guys, I think there is a sense of entitlement among some of them. They just get out there and play for millions of dollars and really don’t have to do anything in return" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 7/12).

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