Rory McIlroy will watch ’stuff that matters’ at the Olympics

Rory McIlroy may not watch the golf event on television when it returns to the Olympics next month and hinted on Tuesday it was not one of the sports that would matter in Rio de Janiero.

Unlike world number three Jordan Spieth, who said he agonised over his decision to withdraw from Rio, McIlroy said he was fully comfortable with his choice to opt out of golf’s Games comeback after a 112-year absence.

“I don’t think it was as difficult a decision for me as it was for him,” the Co Down golfer said. “I’m very happy with the decision I made and I’ve no regrets about it. I’ll probably watch the Olympics but I’m not sure golf will be one of the events I watch.”

Asked which competitions he would view on television, McIlroy replied: “Probably the events like track and field, swimming, diving, the stuff that matters.”

McIlroy added he “didn’t get into golf to get other people into the game”.

He reasoned: “I don’t feel like I’ve let the game down. 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 I get where different people come from and different people have different opinions. But I’m very happy with the decision I’ve made and I have no regrets.”