McIlroy chooses Britain for Olympic Games

GOLF NEWS:EUROPE'S RISING star Rory McIlroy has his sights on a notable double – World Cup glory for Ireland in November and Olympic gold for Britain in 2016.

The 20-year-old, in love with team golf again after helping Britain and Ireland beat Continental Europe at the Vivendi Trophy on Sunday, would have a choice to make if golf is voted back into the Olympics next week 105 years after it last appeared.

As an amateur, McIlroy played for Ireland and he and fellow Ulsterman, Graeme McDowell, his partner in Paris last week, will represent Ireland again at the World Cup in China.

When it comes to the Games there is a long-standing agreement between the British Olympic Association and the Olympic Council of Ireland that Northern Ireland athletes can elect to represent Ireland because they are legally entitled to dual citizenship.

But McIlroy said: “It’s a bit of an awkward question still, but I have a British passport and it would be Great Britain for me.” He actually added the word “probably” at first, but on reflection thought there was no need for it.

A possible consequence of that decision, however, is that it could be harder for McIlroy to get to the Games.

The format agreed upon if the sport does indeed win the vote of International Olympic Committee members in Copenhagen – their executive committee have recommended rugby sevens and golf as new sports – is for a 60-strong field in both men’s and women’s competition.

That will be made up of the world’s top 15 and then players from different nations who do not already have two representatives.

If it was being based on the current rankings McIlroy would miss out. He is 24th and Britain would have Paul Casey and Lee Westwood playing. If he went for Ireland, on the other hand, he would join Pádraig Harrington.

Meanwhile, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are all now confirmed for the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain in four weeks’ time.

The quartet qualify from the world rankings and join Paul Casey, Retief Goosen, Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas, Robert Allenby, Jeev Milkha Singh and Scott Strange in the 16-man field at Finca Cortesin near Marbella.

The remaining five will come from the European money list on Sunday night with McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Angel Cabrera, Soren Kjeldsen and Oliver Wilson currently in position to make it.