RORY McILROY has 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 and Northern Ireland if he qualifies for golf’s return to the Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. But all Northern Irish citizens can opt for Ireland, and the US Open champion now says he doesn’t know.
According to PGA.com, McIlroy said: “Basically, if I am going to be very honest, which I usually am, whatever I say is going to upset someone,” he said. “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 Olympic 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,” he added. “It will spread the game all over the world and make it recognised in different countries, which can only be good.”
South African Thomas Aiken, meanwhile, set a clubhouse target that proved impossible to match on the opening day of the Africa Open in East London yesterday.
Aiken was in the first group out from the ninth tee at 6.30am local time and carded a superb first round of 64, nine under par, to finish one shot ahead of playing partner Retief Goosen and Jaco Ahlers.
Compatriots Michael Du Toit and Dean O’Riley were a shot further back after rounds of 66, with Welshman Phillip Price the only non-South African in the top six after the former Ryder Cup star also carded a 66.
Spanish Open champion Aiken opened with two pars before making an eagle three on the 11th and then closing out his front nine with birdies on the 16th, 17th and 18th. Another eagle arrived at the par-five third and he picked up more birdies on the fifth and sixth.
Ireland’s Simon Thornton is five off the lead after a round of 69, while Damien McGrane shot a 74.
