Professional golfer Rory McIlroy issued a statement to ESPN sharing that he will not be participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics, citing the Zika scare as his reason for withdrawal.
This marks a trend leading into the summer games, where a slew of top competitors are opting out of the event to avoid exposure to the virus.
McIlroy, a native to Northern Ireland and initially sent to represent the green, white and orange, was ranked fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking as of the week ended June 19, 2016.
His withdrawal comes at a historic moment for the golf community, as the sport was included back into the Olympic games after a 112-year absence. During the Rio games, men and women will compete individually on a newly designed golf course.
With McIlroy no longer in the running for gold, a discussion has been sparked across the industry over the caliber of the upcoming event.
