Rory McIlroy is representing Ireland in golf at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
With golf underway at the 2024 Paris Olympics, one of the favorites for a medal, Rory McIlroy, has revealed why he is playing for Ireland rather than Team GB.
McIlroy was born in Northern Ireland and was eligible to represent Team GB but opted to represent Ireland on his Olympic debut three years ago in Tokyo.
In Tokyo, McIlroy and his Ireland teammate Shane Lowry finished just outside the medals but the pair are now aiming for more in Paris.
In the absence of world number three McIlroy, Team GB are represented by Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick in Paris.
Why is Rory McIlroy playing for Ireland not Team GB at the Olympics?
McIlroy has revealed that his decision to represent Ireland and not Team GB at the Olympics follows on from a choice he made during his amateur career.
Before turning professional, McIlroy played for Ireland and the four-time major winner says he had no reason to change allegiance for the Olympics.
In an agreement between the Olympic Federation of Ireland and the British Olympic Association, athletes are permitted to choose which team they wish to represent.
Speaking to The Guardian, McIlroy explained why he opted to represent Ireland having initially struggled with the decision.
“I had a sense of resentment towards the Olympics because I had always tried to stay so neutral and it presented me with this option of: ‘What are you going to do?’” said McIlroy, who chose not to play in golf’s return to the Olympics at Rio de Janeiro in 2016 due to fears over the Zika Virus.
“I had to get over that. All of my amateur career I played for Ireland. I was very proud to play for Ireland. So why would I do anything differently as a professional?
“I made it more difficult for myself than I needed to. My feeling towards it was more, ‘What will other people think?’ Once I got that out of my head and just tried to do what was right for me, then it became easy. It was me wrestling with all of those things.
“Once I left trying not to upset anyone aside, then it was actually a pretty easy decision. The decision was I’m going to play golf for the country or the nation that I’ve always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game.
“Even though the Olympics has given me this choice, there really wasn’t a choice because all I’ve done throughout my life is play golf for Ireland so why would that change just because the tournament has changed? That was my decision.”
McIlroy also revealed his appreciation for Olympic golf.
“Tokyo felt like a throwback to the amateur days. All the federations were there. Seeing people from the amateur game who I hadn’t seen for decades. I really enjoyed the experience and I’m sure Paris will be even better because I’ll get to go to some of the other events.”
About the author
Rob McGarr – Contributing Editor
Rob has been a writer and editor for over 15 years, covering all manner of subjects for leading magazines and websites.
He has previously been Features Editor of Today’s Golfer magazine and Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com, and held roles at FHM, Men’s Running, Golf World, and MAN Magazine.
You can follow him on YouTube where – depending on what day of the week it is – he’ll either be trying his best to get his handicap down to scratch or shoving his clubs in a cupboard, never to be seen again.
Rob is a member at Royal North Devon, England’s oldest golf course, where he plays off a three-handicap.