Written by Steve DiMeglio at USAToday.com
Rory McIlroy is nothing if not brutally honest.
The world No. 4, looking to win his second Claret Jug this week and fifth major championship at Royal Troon in the 145th British Open, spoke Tuesday about a whole lot more than the golf course and his present form in an often startling news conference.
With straight-forward responses to drug testing in golf, growing the game and whether or not he’ll watch golf during the Rio Summer Games, McIlroy didn’t dodge a single question or give an evasive answer.
When asked if he’ll watch golf’s return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence, McIlroy, who pulled out of the Games citing health concerns, said no.
“I’ll probably watch, but I’m not sure golf will be one of the events I watch,” he said. Asked what events he would watch, he said, “probably events like track and field, swimming, diving … the stuff that matters.”
Well, OK then.
McIlroy was told that Jordan Spieth said he had to make the toughest decision in his life when he opted to not play in the Olympics. McIlroy said he was “very happy with his decision” to not play and didn’t think he was letting the game down by not going to Rio.
“Honestly, I don’t think it was as difficult a decision for me as it was for (Spieth),” McIlroy said. “I don’t feel like I’ve let the game down at all. I didn’t get into golf to try and grow the game. I got into golf to win championships and win major championships, and all of a sudden you get to this point and there is a responsibility on you to grow the game, and I get that.
“But at the same time that’s not the reason that I got into golf. I got into golf to win. I didn’t get into golf to get other people into the game. But, look, I get where different people come from and different people have different opinions. But I’m very happy with the decision that I’ve made and I have no regrets about it.”
And there was talk about drug testing. McIlroy said golf needs to toughen its drug-testing procedures if it’s to be viewed “as a mainstream sport.” He said blood tests should be administered if golf wants to “get in line with the other sports that test more rigorously.”
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