McIlroy, McDowell ‘Irish’ for Olympics?

For a long time now Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell have made noises about their Olympic Games conundrum and whether they will be forced to choose between Great Britain (and Northern Ireland) or Ireland if they qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Brian Keogh of Irish Golf Desk on Olympics and the country saga

[highlight] Given the comments made by R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson on Monday, the saga may only just be getting started in earnest. [/highlight]

While reports suggest that McIlroy (and other UK-born) Irish golfers may have to declare for Ireland because of their previous appearances for Ireland as amateurs and in golf’s World Cup, the situation is murky to say the least.Dawson, said: “I think, because Rory’s history of playing for Ireland at amateur level and I think at World Cup level, that there may be a regulation within the Olympic rules that would require him to stay with that. It’s quite ambiguous really but there is a rule that a player who has represented one nation at a previous world championships from certain countries, that carries with you.

[Article Courtesy- Irish Golf Desk]

What is clear is that McIlroy and McDowell, the world No 2 and world No 8 respectively, are patently uncomfortable about being asked to choose between Team GB and Ireland.McIlroy was forced to issue an open letter last year following a newspaper report that quoted him as saying that he always felt “more British than Irish” and hinted strongly at Christmas that the easiest choice may be to simply give the Olympics a wide berth.