TROON, Scotland — Golfer Jordan Spieth is withdrawing from the Olympics over Zika concerns, he announced Monday.
Last month, two other major players, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy announced they aren’t going either.
Golf hadn’t been played in the Olympics in a century, but is returning for the Rio de Janeiro games.
Day says his only reason for not going is concern over transmission of the mosquito-borne virus that has been linked to severe birth defects. The 28-year-old Australian says while the risk is slight, it’s not one he is willing to take because he plans to have more children.
Spieth is the sixth golfer to specifically cite Zika for not going to Rio. Four other golfers have turned down their chance to play.
