As Rory McIlroy sat smiling in his green Irish top ahead of the 2024 Olympics, some fans might have been confused.
McIlroy was born in Holywood, Northern Ireland and the Northern Irish flag is attached to his name on every leaderboard on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
So why is the four-time major winner representing Ireland at Le Golf National in Paris this week and not Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Team GB)?
When he played in the Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo, McIlroy explained the process that led to his decision which contains roots from his amateur days:
“I made it more difficult for myself than I needed to,” he said.
“As I said, previously, once I left trying not to upset anyone aside, then it was actually a pretty easy decision. The decision was I’m going to play golf for the country or the nation that I’ve always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game. And that’s Ireland.”
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Rory McIlroy: Ireland Olympics decision explained by amateur days
The British Olympic Association and the Olympic Federation of Ireland have a deal that allows athletes from Northern Ireland to choose which region to compete in.
Similarly to McIlroy, Daniel Wiffin of Northern Ireland won the gold medal in 800m freestyle in the swimming pool on Tuesday while competing for Ireland.
Just as they did at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on the PGA Tour in April, McIlroy and Shane Lowry team up in a bid for the top of the podium which was donned by Xander Schauffele three years ago at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Japan.
“It would be the achievement, certainly of the year, if not – I think for me, it’s well documented that I haven’t won one of the Big Four in 10 years. It would probably be one of, if not the biggest in my career for the last 10 years,” McIlroy said of the prospect of winning the gold medal.”
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McIlroy’s last appearance was at the 152nd Open at Royal Troon two weeks ago where he missed the cut. Lowry, who looked well in contention to win his second Open Championship at the halfway stage, came sixth.
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