McIlroy may opt to skip Rio Games over Zika fears

[May 24, 2016]  (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy took a long time to decide he would represent Ireland at the 2016 Rio Olympics but the 27-year-old world number three could now miss golf's return to the Games after a 112-year absence because of concerns over the Zika virus.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy plays his tee shot at the 5th hole Action Images via Reuters / Paul Childs Livepic

The Northern Irishman had threatened to skip the Olympics as he agonized over representing Great Britain or Ireland in Brazil but after opting for the latter in 2014, the mosquito-borne disease may lead the four-times major winner to avoid the Games.

First detected in Brazil last year, Zika has been linked in that country to more than 1,300 cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect defined by unusually small heads and something that is clearly a major concern for McIlroy.

"There's going to be a point in the next couple of years where we (McIlroy and fiancée Erica Stoll) are going to have to think about starting a family," McIlroy told the British media after winning the Irish Open over the weekend.

"Right now I'm ready to go but I don't want anything to affect that."

Three-time major winner Vijay Singh and Australian golfer Marc Leishman have both withdrawn from the Rio Games due to concerns over the virus but McIlroy remains optimistic over his participation as he continues to monitor the situation.

"As it gets closer, I am relishing the thought of going down there and competing for gold," McIlroy said.

"But I have been reading a lot of reports about Zika and there have been some articles coming out saying that it might be worse than they are saying," he added.

"I am actually going to get my injections on Wednesday -- at least I will be immunized for whatever... if I do get bitten by a mosquito down there."

(Reporting by Nivedita Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien)

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