The Open: '˜Toughest decision' for Jordan Spieth leads to Rio 2016 withdrawal

Jordan Spieth has labelled his decision to withdraw from the Olympic Games as the hardest of his life and feels it will 'loom' over him throughout Rio 2016.
Jordan Spieth during a press conference at Royal Troon. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA.Jordan Spieth during a press conference at Royal Troon. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA.
Jordan Spieth during a press conference at Royal Troon. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA.

But the two-time major winner refused to elaborate on the “health concerns” which led to him pulling out of the American team at the last minute, even after sitting next to Rickie Fowler as he confirmed his own participation on social media.

Asked to specify what medical advice he had received, Spieth said: “No, that’s personal. I can’t. I can tell you that I’m not specifically pinpointing any one thing in my health concerns either.”

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More than 20 male players have now opted out of competing in Rio, with Spieth’s fellow members of the world’s top four – Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy – all citing concerns over Zika, a mosquito-borne virus which has been linked to defects in newborn babies and Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome which causes temporary paralysis in adults.

“I didn’t cite that, so please don’t do that for me,” added Spieth. “That (Zika) is not the only one.”

Spieth had previously cited “other bacteria stuff” and “security threats” in Brazil as factors in making what he called “probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life”.

The 22-year-old added: “This was harder than trying to decide what university to go to. Whether to turn professional and leave school. This was something I very much struggled with, I bounced back and forth with, and ultimately a decision had to be made yesterday and so I made it.

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“I will continue to carry it with me through these Games. It will loom over me throughout the Olympic games, for sure. I’m sure at times I’ll be pretty upset that I’m not down there.

“I’m a huge believer in Olympic golf and hope to play in four or five in the future if I have the opportunity. This year I just had to try and weigh a risk that doesn’t present itself every year.

“Do I think it looks bad on golf? Maybe. Again, I’m making the decision of what I think is best for me. I don’t feel like I have to carry the torch for the sport or anyone else.”