COMMENT: Rory McIlroy owes Ireland absolutely nothing

Rory McIlroy has made a decision. It's his decision and one that he must live with. Let it be and focus our energies on backing Team Ireland this August.

The Zika virus means nothing to an awful lot of us. It is affecting far away people in a far away country. There are outbreaks and illnesses the world over that we know nothing about and are happy to know nothing about. Our biggest worry about the Rio Olympics, a couple of years back, was the scummy water. Now it is a virus that is affecting pregnant women. It would mean zilch to us, still, if Rory McIlroy had not cited it as his reason for pulling out of the Olympics. There goes one of our main hopes of winning a gold medal for golf at the Olympics. As if it really matters in the grand scheme of life. This is the first Olympics since 1904 that will feature golf. The field will be flooded with professionals who long dreamed of winning the Masters' Green Jacket or the Open's Claret Jug. Getting a medal draped around their neck never flittered through their resting minds. As for the Irish fans? We'll have to go back to pining our hopes on the boxers and hoping we can kayak, pommel-horse [verb?!] or sail our way onto the podium. McIlroy is engaged to  Erica Stoll. One imagines the young couple may want to have children one day. https://twitter.com/MedEdHead/status/745543040664637440 Despite the assurances that all possible health and screening precautions will be taken, no-one connected with the Olympics is giving 100% assurances that competing athletes and sportspeople will not pick up the virus. British long jumper Greg Rutherford is off to Rio but is freezing his sperm before he jets off, after getting medical advice to do so. For the amateurs that have spent four years, hell a whole lifetime, working, sweating, bleeding and sacrificing to get to Rio, dicing with his virus may be a risk worth taking. For McIlroy, the risk is not worth taking. There have been floods of criticisms and accusations. One hopes people get it out of their system and leave the man be thereafter. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/745555607147675648 McIlroy does not owe Ireland anything more than he has already given us, and he has given a lot. Ten years of a remarkable journey from amateur hot-shot to world number one, with four Major wins, Ryder Cup triumphs, awful implosions and sheer sublime play in between. The great Jack Nicklaus has said he is 'in awe' of McIlroy's talent but we always want more. He does too. It's what makes him great. He has revitalised The Irish Open and, through The Rory Foundation, donated millions to three worthy, Irish charities. He won this year too, producing the goods in front of packed K Club galleries on the final day. One of those charities is Barretstown, which provide camps and programmes for children diagnosed with cancer and serious illness. They too are in awe of Rory; the man. The guy who spends hours away from the camera raising awareness, spending time with these unfortunate children and asking what more he can do. He is a proud Northern Irishman from a Catholic family and a Catholic upbringing. He follows Ulster Rugby, from near [when he can] and far. He is in France to follow the Northern Irish footballers. When asked to choose who he would represent at the Olympics, he took the flak by going for Team Ireland. If Zika is just an excuse, so what? Let him have a week off and get away from a game he has lived and breathed since he was chipping golf balls into washing machines as a nipper. He'll be grateful for it if it freshens him up for the Ryder Cup. And if he helps us retain that cup, he will be lauded by Irish, Northern Irish and English alike. As for Team Ireland, they should let an amateur Irish golfer take his place. North or South of the arbitrary border, as long as he plays for us we should cheer him on. Team the guy up with Shane Lowry and give them all the support we have.