Day, Lowry opt out of Rio Olympics over Zika fears
Print Edition
SHANE Lowry of Ireland has pulled out of the Olympics because of concerns over the Zika virus.
Lowry said yesterday he received medical advice that he should not travel to Rio de Janeiro. Lowry recently married and said he hopes to start a family soon.
Lowry is the fifth golfer to withdraw specifically because of Zika. Earlier yesterday, world No. 1 Jason Day said he would not be competing. Rory McIlroy cited Zika in pulling out last week, while Charl Schwartzel of South Africa and Marc Leishman of Australia previously withdrew.
The Irish golf team in Rio will not have anyone in the top 100 in the world. Lowry said he would represent Ireland in this year’s World Cup in Australia.
Day’s pullout cost golf its No. 1 player as it returns from a century-long Olympic absence.
“The sole reason for my decision is my concerns about the possible transmission of the Zika virus and the potential risks that it may present to my wife’s future pregnancies and to future members of our family,” Day said in a statement. “I have always placed my family in front of everything else in my life.”
Day and wife Ellie had their second child in November, and he says they want more children.
Brazil has been the hardest hit of the 60 countries that have reported an outbreak of Zika, the mosquito-borne virus linked to severe birth defects.
Australia has three players in the top 50 in the world, and all of them have withdrawn — 28-year-old Day, Adam Scott (No. 8) and Leishman (No. 39).
Scott was the first to withdraw. He said Olympics were never his priority in a year in which the schedule is crammed with major championships. The sport has not been part of the Games since 1904 in St Louis.
Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa cited scheduling concerns when he withdrew. Vijay Singh of Fiji also mentioned Zika but was more bothered by the schedule. Graeme McDowell, who was in line to replace McIlroy, withdrew late last week because his wife is due with their second child a few weeks after the Olympics.
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