GRAEME MCDOWELL INSISTS the ongoing debate over which country to represent at the Olympics in Brazil will not stop him lining out for Ireland at the World Cup.
G-Mac — as well as good friend and fellow Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy — is faced with choosing between playing for Ireland or Team GB in Rio in 2016.
McIlroy has shied away from the contentious issue, pushing back any potential decision and has insisted recently we will not play in the World Cup. But McDowell insists he’ll take each call as it comes.
Advertisement
“I haven’t thought about it very much to be honest with you,” he told reporters ahead of the Players Championship yesterday.
“It’s 2016, and I don’t think ‑‑ I think you can ask any golfers this week, they probably haven’t quantified in their head what the Olympics are going to mean to them. It’s a very special thing to be part of. Where’s it going to fit into the golfing ethos, golfing hierarchy of events. We’ve talked about the big four; the Olympics should theoretically slip in and make it the big five. But I don’t think anyone’s got their head around it yet.
“So the dilemma that myself and Rory kind of have is a very unique dilemma, and it’s a very interesting one. There’s been a huge amount of speculation about it. In regards to the World Cup golf this year, for example, with the rule in there that says that if Rory and I have represented Ireland, which we would represent Ireland if we both played this year, then we’d be compelled to play for Ireland in the Olympic Games. Is that rule going to stand? Is it not going to stand?
“I kind of had an informal conversation with Rory in regards to are we going to play the World Cup together, because I’d love to do that. And now I think they’ve announced it’s going to be at Royal Melbourne, which is a cool and amazing golf course. I’d love to play for Ireland in the World Cup.
“And the Olympics will not enter my head making a decision whether I’m going to play for Ireland in the World Cup this year, because it’s an event I’d love to play. So like I say, if it compels me to‑‑ if it forces me into playing for Ireland in the Olympics in 2016, so be it.”
Asked about McIlroy’s insistence that he’ll sit out the tournament, McDowell added:
“I know, that’s what I said to him, what are you doing? I need my partner in crime with me in Melbourne. So we’ll see. It’s an interesting thing. I literally only found out about the World Cup a couple days ago. They haven’t put the parameters around it, and it’s an event I’ve always had fun playing in.
“Regardless whether Rory wants to play or not, I want to play this year. If it works, I’d like him to be there as well, but we’ll see.
“Like I say, if it compels me to play for Ireland in the Olympics, so be it. It’s one of those very unique parts of the world where we kind of have access to both the UK and Ireland. And I feel bad, especially for Rory, that he’s come under so much fire and speculation for having to make that decision. But like I say, I’m not giving it much thought. It’s tough to quantify just yet what it’s going to mean and who is going to play,” he said.
G-Mac in World Cup plea to 'partner in crime' Rory McIlroy
GRAEME MCDOWELL INSISTS the ongoing debate over which country to represent at the Olympics in Brazil will not stop him lining out for Ireland at the World Cup.
G-Mac — as well as good friend and fellow Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy — is faced with choosing between playing for Ireland or Team GB in Rio in 2016.
McIlroy has shied away from the contentious issue, pushing back any potential decision and has insisted recently we will not play in the World Cup. But McDowell insists he’ll take each call as it comes.
“I haven’t thought about it very much to be honest with you,” he told reporters ahead of the Players Championship yesterday.
“It’s 2016, and I don’t think ‑‑ I think you can ask any golfers this week, they probably haven’t quantified in their head what the Olympics are going to mean to them. It’s a very special thing to be part of. Where’s it going to fit into the golfing ethos, golfing hierarchy of events. We’ve talked about the big four; the Olympics should theoretically slip in and make it the big five. But I don’t think anyone’s got their head around it yet.
“So the dilemma that myself and Rory kind of have is a very unique dilemma, and it’s a very interesting one. There’s been a huge amount of speculation about it. In regards to the World Cup golf this year, for example, with the rule in there that says that if Rory and I have represented Ireland, which we would represent Ireland if we both played this year, then we’d be compelled to play for Ireland in the Olympic Games. Is that rule going to stand? Is it not going to stand?
“I kind of had an informal conversation with Rory in regards to are we going to play the World Cup together, because I’d love to do that. And now I think they’ve announced it’s going to be at Royal Melbourne, which is a cool and amazing golf course. I’d love to play for Ireland in the World Cup.
“And the Olympics will not enter my head making a decision whether I’m going to play for Ireland in the World Cup this year, because it’s an event I’d love to play. So like I say, if it compels me to‑‑ if it forces me into playing for Ireland in the Olympics in 2016, so be it.”
Asked about McIlroy’s insistence that he’ll sit out the tournament, McDowell added:
“I know, that’s what I said to him, what are you doing? I need my partner in crime with me in Melbourne. So we’ll see. It’s an interesting thing. I literally only found out about the World Cup a couple days ago. They haven’t put the parameters around it, and it’s an event I’ve always had fun playing in.
“Like I say, if it compels me to play for Ireland in the Olympics, so be it. It’s one of those very unique parts of the world where we kind of have access to both the UK and Ireland. And I feel bad, especially for Rory, that he’s come under so much fire and speculation for having to make that decision. But like I say, I’m not giving it much thought. It’s tough to quantify just yet what it’s going to mean and who is going to play,” he said.
What do you think?
Wayne Rooney ‘not for sale’, say Man United as exit rumours rife
Teenage footballer charged in referee’s death
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
G-Mac Golf Olympics Rory McIlroy