McIlroy may skip 2016 Olympics

LONDON (AFP) –

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy celebrates during the 4rd round of the DP World Tour Championship in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, on November 25, 2012. World number one McIlroy admitted on Thursday that he may sit out the 2016 Olympics to avoid a storm over the sensitivities of playing for either Britain or Ireland.

World number one Rory McIlroy admitted on Thursday that he may sit out the 2016 Olympics to avoid a storm over the sensitivities of playing for either Britain or Ireland.

The 23-year-old McIlroy, who is from Holywood in Northern Ireland, would be eligible for selection by either Great Britain or Ireland at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when golf makes its Games debut.

But he told the BBC that he may skip the tournament as he does not want to offend either country.

“I just think being from where we’re from, we’re placed in a very difficult position,” said McIlroy, the reigning USPGA champion.

“I feel Northern Irish and obviously being from Northern Ireland you have a connection to Ireland and a connection to the UK.

“If I could and there was a Northern Irish team I’d play for Northern Ireland.

“Play for one side or the other — or not play at all because I may upset too many people. Those are my three options I’m considering very carefully.”

McIlroy’s tennis star girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, appears in the documentary, “Rory: Being Number One”, and says that McIlroy’s success has not gone to his head.

“People watch him play and win all these tournaments, but he hasn’t changed a bit,” said Wozniacki.

She added: “It’s good that we both have our own separate careers.

“We know how the other is feeling and the drive to always want to improve at sport, but at the same time one of us isn’t sitting at home waiting for the other.”