\’ll be remembered for my major championships” – When Rory McIlroy openly slammed the Olympics after pulling out of the event in 2016
Rory McIlroy is competing at the 2024 Olympics and is in a very good position to win a medal for Ireland. However, a few years ago, he had pulled out of the event because he used to think differently. McIlroy, who is competing in his second Olympics, withdrew from the 2016 Rio Olympics, the first time in more than 100 years that golf was included in the Olympics. At the time, he said he felt it was not his place to develop his game and that he had no regrets about his decision.
During the 2016 British Open Championship, Rory McIlroy was asked about his decision to not compete in the Rio Olympics. “I don’t think I’ve given up on the game,” he told Golf Digest. “I didn’t get into golf to get better at it. I came to golf to win major championships, and I understand that I have a responsibility to the game. But at the same time, I got into golf to win. I didn’t get into golf to encourage others to play.
“I’m very happy with the decision I made. I have no regrets and I think I’ll probably watch the Olympics. “But I’m not sure golf will ever be one of the sports I watch,” he added.
Eight years later, a mature Rory McIlroy who hasn’t won a Grand Slam in 10 years has a different perspective on competing in the Olympics. “Without that, it would have been the feat of the year. I think it’s no secret that I haven’t won a Grand Slam tournament in the last 10 years. “This is probably going to be one of the biggest successes of my career over the last 10 years,” he said ahead of the men’s golf competition at the 2024 Olympics.
At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Rory McIlroy shot 68 and 69 in the first two rounds to finish 5 under after 36 holes. He finished with 15 points and is six strokes behind the leader.
McIlroy is competing in his second Olympic Games. He finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, missing out on the bronze medal in a playoff.
After two rounds of the 2024 Olympic men’s golf tournament, Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama and Tommy Fleetwood share a combined three-stroke lead over Jon Rahm.
