Golfer Jordan Spieth to skip Rio Olympics for ‘health reasons’

By DOUG FERGUSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

8 years ago

Defending U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth talks with reporters after a practice round for the 2016 US Open golf championship at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa., June 13, 2016. Spieth is out of the Olympics. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Jordan Spieth watches his tee shot on the third hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa., June 16, 2016. Spieth is out of the Olympics. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

Jordan Spieth, center, is embraced by his girlfriend, Annie Verret, following his loss to International team player Marc Leishman of Australia in their singles match as Dustin Johnson, left, watches at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, in Incheon, South Korea, Oct. 11, 2015. Spieth is out of the Olympics. (Lee Jin-man/AP)

Jordan Spieth, left, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day. Jordan Spieth is out of the Olympics. He will be replaced by Matt Kuchar. That means golf’s return to the Olympics after 112-year absence will not include the top four players in the world — Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Spieth, and Rory McIlroy. (File/AP)

TROON, Scotland — Jordan Spieth withdrew from the Olympics on Monday, leaving golf without its top four players when the sport returns to the games for the first time since 1904.

The decision was announced by International Golf Federation President Peter Dawson.

Spieth is the latest golfer to say he was not going to Rio, telling the IGF it was for “health reasons.” He had until midnight Monday in Scotland to decide. He was practicing at Royal Troon during the IGF news conference and was not expected to speak until Tuesday.

Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy previously withdrew, all citing the Zika virus. Day and Johnson have said they plan on having more children, while McIlroy is engaged and said he would soon be starting a family.

Golf still has eight of the top 15 players in the world competing in Rio, though losing the top four could be a big setback in its bid to stay in the Olympic program. It is assured of being part of the Tokyo Games in 2020, but the International Olympic Committee votes next year to decide whether it stays beyond that.

The Americans still have four players in Rio, the most of any country. Spieth was replaced by Matt Kuchar, who narrowly reached No. 15 in the world two weeks ago with a tie for third in the Bridgestone Invitational. The other Americans are Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Patrick Reed.

Spieth was enthusiastic about the Olympics until about a month ago, when he started to mention security, Zika and other concerns. Johnson pulled out Friday, and Spieth was said to be struggling with his decision until Monday.