Rory McIlroy is aiming for Olympic gold as a way to make up for the tough years he’s faced in major championships over the past decade.
Representing Team Ireland at Golf National this week, McIlroy last claimed one of his four major titles in 2014. While he, like many golfers, is uncertain about the significance of Olympic medals in golf, his personal motivation is strong. Golf returned to the Olympics in 2016 after being absent for 112 years.
“It would definitely be the highlight of the year,” McIlroy stated when asked how he would rank such success. “It’s well-known that I haven’t won one of the big four in a decade. This would probably rank as one of, if not the greatest achievement in my career over the last ten years.
“My concentration is quite high. The last time you all saw me, I didn’t perform well at the Open in Troon. I want to be fully prepared when I tee off on Thursday.
“I’ve been asked frequently where an Olympic medal fits in the hierarchy of my career achievements, and that’s a question I likely won’t answer until everything is completed. I can’t say if anything would compare to the majors. We have our four yearly events that represent the gold standard. But I believe this will rank up there over time.”
An important discussion point is Bryson DeChambeau’s absence from the US team in France. DeChambeau won the US Open and finished in the top 10 at both the Masters and US PGA Championship. However, his affiliation with LIV Golf prevents him from earning world ranking points in the regular tour events. Consequently, the four US representatives, all of whom are in the world’s top 10, did not include DeChambeau.
“That’s just how Olympic qualification works,” McIlroy noted. “You could have the fifth-ranked sprinter globally, but if they’re from a certain country, they may not qualify. It’s simply the nature of the qualification process in the Olympic Games, and this applies beyond just golf.”
When pressed about whether world rankings should play such a significant role in Olympic eligibility, especially as the system hasn’t recognized LIV, McIlroy showed little empathy for DeChambeau and others. “I don’t believe there’s any viable alternative since it’s challenging to compare the golf they play to ours,” the Northern Irishman commented. “That’s why they did not earn world ranking points, right? If you aim to qualify for the Olympics, you know the path you must take. Just like for the Ryder Cup, the criteria were clearly communicated. They were aware of the choices they made.”
Shane Lowry, McIlroy’s teammate, expressed immense pride in being one of Ireland’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony. “It was an incredible experience, a great honor, and something I will cherish forever,” said Lowry. “Those are lasting memories, and just being there among other athletes was pretty special. Witnessing the Olympics from that perspective, it’s something that, as a young golfer, I never imagined would be attainable. It truly was an amazing experience.”
On Tuesday morning, McIlroy and Lowry started their warm-up with nine holes at the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
