Golf:Rory McIlroy has now decided not to declare which team he would represent in the Olympics until he has to. Two years ago the 22-year-old said it would be Great Britain if he qualifies for golf's return to the Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

But, having represented Ireland throughout his amateur years, the British citizen has decided to defer any decision until closer to the time.

“I still don’t know,” McIlroy conceded when asked on the eve of the US PGA Championship.

“Basically, if I am going to be very honest, which I usually am, whatever I say is going to upset someone. So I may as well just say I don’t know and wait until four or five years’ time whenever I have to make a decision.”

If he is in the world’s top 15 at the cut-off point McIlroy would be guaranteed a place in the 60-strong field and he is certainly looking forward to the possibility.

“It would be a huge honour to represent your country,” he said. “It would be a great achievement to win a gold medal.

“As the Olympic Games come closer I think the excitement will build for it and people will get into it more and I think it’s great for the game of golf that it’s now become an Olympic sport.

“It will spread the game all over the world and make it recognised in different countries, which can only be good.”