McIlroy should opt for GB - Harrington

Pádraig Harrington says Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell should declare for Britain in the Olympics to 'gain a couple of more spots for the Irish guys'. - (Photograph: Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

Golf : Pádraig Harrington has claimed the decision facing Rory McIlroy on whether to represent Britain or Ireland at the 2016 Olympic Games is a “no-brainer” for Irish golf.

The three-time Major winner, ranked 90th in the world this week, has described the prospect of competing at the Games in Rio de Janeiro as “career-defining”.

However, he is forthright in his belief McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, ranked second and 11th in the world, respectively - should opt to play for Britain, in order to maximise the amount of Irishmen in the field.

“I’m fascinated with all this conversation about who we declare for,” the Dubliner told Setanta Sports in a new programme called The Cut Line, to be aired at 10pm on Saturday evening.

“If Rory and Graeme declare for Great Britain, it means we get two more Irish guys into it - as in myself and Darren Clarke get to play. You see the system works if you’re in the top fifteen, you can have more than two from the country.

“So, if somebody wants Rory to be as Irish as he can be, he better declare for GB and we get two more guys in. When it comes down to it, it will be a complete no brainer because nobody is losing out, you’re actually just gaining a couple of more spots for Irish guys.”

An Olympic gold, he says, could be a “career-defining” moment, that “will have relevance in time”.

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