Rory McIlroy didn’t back down Thursday from his Tuesday comments criticizing Olympic golf, when he said he would rather watch “the stuff that matters” -- specifically track and field, swimming and diving.
“I’ve thought about Olympics and golf for the last seven years [since it was re-added to the Olympic program in 2009], and I decided it was time to stop dancing around the issue and actually tell everyone what I thought,” McIlroy, who announced June 22 that he would skip the sport’s return to the Games due to Zika virus concerns, said on BBC Radio after his opening British Open round Thursday. “Some people don’t like it, I get that. It’s my opinion, and my opinion may be wrong.
“I don’t think anyone can blame me for being too honest, but at the same time, it was seven years of trying to give the PC answer. Finally, I just cracked.”
McIlroy, ranked No. 4 in the world, shot a 2-under 69 in the first round at Royal Troon. Golf Channel and NBC are broadcasting the British Open through Sunday’s final round.
