Rory Eyes Fresh Solution To Olympic Nationality Row: Pass

The BBC, reporting comments from a BBC documentary airing tonight:

"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."

You may recall this has been an unfortunate and ongoing distraction for the lad, so much so that he issued a cultural identity letter in September and has already been the subject of subtle lobbying from the Irish side.

Meanwhile Kyle Porter notes that Rory is already in Nike gear as he lounges (uncomfortably) watching Caroline Wozniacki prepare for her upcoming first round loss in the Australian Open.

Comments

[Greg C]

He should not play at all. Not should any other member of any other professional tour.

[Rob]

Wozniacki preparing for her first round loss at the Apia International tournament in Sydney next week in which she is scheduled to play.

The Australian Open starts the week of Jan 14 and McIiroy will probably be on a plane to Abu Dhabi while Woz is losing here first round match there.

But, on the bright side, it looks like Australia didn't have to pay McIlroy $3 mil to make an appearance Down Under!

[Ivan Morris]

Rory might start a trend - apart from the delusional and ignorant who do not understand what a golf major really is.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

Hope he decides not to commit. It really isn't worth the angst. He's got more important goals in life ... like adding to his major tally.

[KLG]

Smart young man.

[Stanley Thompson]

Golf is not an olympic sport, especially for pros.
It should be for amateurs only.
But wait,amateurs no longer exist.
Do you know any poor olympians?

[BrianS]

Shame on all those (mostly Irish) that have hounded Rory about an event 3 years away, about an issue that may well be a mute point. It is a personal decision, then let him make it that way based on his own feelings without needless politicizing it. Now what would be funny is if he skipped 2016, obtained US Citizenship, and played for the US in 2020. (I didn't check if that is feasible - don't shoot me please). All you complaining about Golf in the Olympics remind me of one of my kids in the back seat of the car, complaining about the restaurant (that he has never been to) that we are heading to eat at for dinner. How about we see how it goes huh ? And maybe even let them run a couple to iron the kinks out before we slam it ? The Olympics is the premier international sporting event - and Golf is an international sport - it belongs there just as much as cycling or sailing or any of the other sports conducted outside of the stadium.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

@ BrianS ... even if were possible, wouldn't that mean Rory forfeiting playing for Europe in the Ryder Cup?

I agree that every new Olympic event needs time to bed down. However, tennis has been on the go for a while now and although it was great to see Andy Murray win the Gold Medal, my joy was more to do him winning at Wimbledon rather than winning the Gold Medal itself (hopefully, he'll remember how to do it when the main event comes around again). And, when he won his first 'slam' ... well, there was just no comparison between winning that event and winning the Gold Medal.

[DBLHIT55]

Rory should play, but as an independent nation.
He should not have to take sides.
He should play but avoid all politics.