JORDAN SPIETH has labelled not competing in this year’s Olympics as “the hardest decision of my life”. The world number three admitted he had agonised over it for months before electing on Monday not to compete in Rio as golf returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1904. The two-time major winner also made clear his withdrawal was on general health grounds, and not specifically because of concerns over the Zika virus.
He said: “This was probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life at 22 years old. I can probably honestly say that. This was harder than trying to decide what university to go to, whether to turn professional and leave school. This was something I very much struggled with. I bounced back and forth with, and ultimately a decision had to be made yesterday, and so I made it.
“I'm not specifically pinpointing any one thing in my health concerns either. This is health concerns as a whole. This is just something that was very, very challenging for me. I very much struggled with it. I certainly didn't want to have to do this during major week. Obviously, I would have rather had the focus be on the Open Championship, but it hasn't been at the beginning of this week.
“It will loom over me throughout the Olympic games, for sure. I will be pretty upset that I'm not down there. I thought about all this ahead of time. When I watched the opening ceremonies, that's going to be a big bummer. Then when I watch these guys competing on the golf course. I'll be texting with Rickie [Fowler], obviously, throughout as a good friend of mine. I thought about all of this ahead of time and still made the decision I did because it was the right move for me.”
Fowler has already been teasing his friend about what he might be missing out on, as Spieth revealed. “I texted Rickie immediately after I decided and said, "Rick, I'm sorry, buddy, but I'm not going to be joining you down there this year. Sorry about that. I'm obviously going to be rooting for you, bud." He said, "No worries. I know you had to make it just for you. You're just going to be jealous when I get that gold”.”
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