Jordan Spieth cites health concerns for pulling out of Olympics

Reporting from TROON, SCOTLAND —  Jordan Spieth called it “probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life at 22 years old.” In the end, the world’s top-ranked American golfer said he chose what he thought was best for his future in pulling out of the Olympics in Brazil.

Appearing before the British Open media Tuesday, a day after he decided to pull out of Rio de Janeiro, Spieth spoke earnestly about his struggles to make a decision and the disappointment he will feel when he watches the Olympics when they begin Aug. 5.

“It will loom over me throughout the Olympic Games, for sure,” Spieth said. “I will be, I’m sure, at times pretty upset that I’m not down there.

“I thought about all of this ahead of time. When I watch the opening ceremonies, that’s going to be a big bummer. Then when I watch these guys competing on the golf course. I’ll be texting Rickie [Fowler], obviously, throughout as a good friend of mine.”

But, Spieth said, “Nobody’s going to understand what it’s like to be in my shoes. As you can see, a lot of golfers are trying to decide for themselves. Mine came down to a very personal decision that I don’t expect anybody to understand, but trust that I believe I’m making the right decision for myself, for my future and those around me.”

Spieth said reports he withdrew specifically because of concerns over the Zika virus were erroneous.

“This is health concerns as a whole,” Spieth said, not specifying, but possibly referring to other security issues. “I had to weigh the risk for the reward.”

Spieth faced a deadline for his decision because the competitors from various countries were decided Monday.

“I certainly was not trying to wait until the last minute,” he said. “I just couldn’t make a decision.”

World No. 2 Dustin Johnson and Spieth, at No. 3, are the Americans who have withdrawn from the Olympics. The U.S. will be represented by Bubba Watson, Fowler, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar.

Spieth said he texted Fowler that he wouldn’t be playing and said, “I’ll be rooting for you bud.” Fowler, he said, texted back: “No worries. I know you had to make it just for you. You’re just going to be jealous when I get the gold.”

Spieth’s loss to the Olympics will not be the gain of the John Deere Classic, which is being played opposite the Games, beginning Aug. 11. Spieth has won the tournament two of the last three years, but said he won’t enter.

“I don’t think it would be appropriate [to play] given our decision on the Olympics,” Spieth said.

Sixteen males and one female have withdrawn from Olympic golf, with most citing Zika as their biggest concern. The top four ranked men won’t be there. No. 1 Jason Day and No. 4 Rory McIlroy withdrew.

McIlroy pulls no punches

Apparently, McIroy wasn’t feeling nearly as torn as Spieth about his choice to not be an Olympian.

Saying he was “very happy” with his decision, the Northern Irishman went further in giving Olympic golf a little kick while it’s down.

“I’ll probably watch the Olympics, but I’m not sure golf will be one of the events I watch,” McIlroy said.

Which events, then?

“Probably,” he said, “the events like track and field, swimming, diving — stuff that matters.”

Ouch.

Said McIlroy: “I don’t feel like I’ve let the game down at all. I didn’t get into golf to try to grow the game. I got into golf to win championships and major championships.”

McIroy, who missed last year’s Open with a broken ankle, made a couple of other pointed comments.

On golf’s lax treatment of drug testing: “I could use HGH and get away with it, so I think blood testing is something that needs to happen in golf just to make sure that it is a clean sport going forward. If golf is in the Olympics and golf wants to be seen as a mainstream sport as such, it has to get in line with the other sports that test more rigorously.”

On being compared to Spieth, Day and Johnson: “I’ve got four major championships, and I’d love to add to that tally, just as those guys would love to add to their one or two majors that they have and just keep going.”