You name them, they’re dropping out.
The world’s to golfers look like they are withdrawing en masse from Rio 2016 and Zika is the big bad wolf.
The mosquito-carried virus, which has affected pregnant women in Brazil, has once again been cited as the reason why Planet Earth’s best male golfers will be skipping the Olympics.
Shane Lowry and Jason Day are the latest to pull up anchor and sail as far away from the XXXI Olympiad as nautically possible.
Damn you Zika!!! 😥 https://t.co/FCG3ySXif7
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 28, 2016
The duo have followed a trail blazed by Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. 11 of the world’s top 100 are confirmed as withdrawals from Rio 2016.
#Golf Ireland, South Africa and Australia have each had 3 golfers withdraw from Rio 2016. Rest of the world have combined total of 2
— Hilary Evans (@OlympicStatman) June 28, 2016
11 qualified men have pulled out – 0 women. Interesting stat
— Hilary Evans (@OlympicStatman) June 28, 2016
The reaction from some of the amateurs that will take part in the games has been less than complimentary.
Last week, Darren O’Neill, who captained Ireland’s boxing team at London 2012, tore into McIlroy:
I have cried tears & spilled blood in trying to qualify for Rio. This affirms my opinions. We are better w/o him!! https://t.co/kzjxKQfKFr
— Darren O'Neill OLY (@DarrenONeillOLY) June 22, 2016
Following news of Day’s exit, hours before Lowry tweeted he would not be competing, Katie Taylor voiced her opinion:
Another one bites the dust. I wonder what excuse the golfers would of made if there was no virus. https://t.co/z5GUgQVEc2
— Katie Taylor (@KatieTaylor) June 28, 2016
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