Rory McIlroy blames his 'ignorance and naivety' for initial Olympic scepticism

Rory McIlroy reacts to a chip shot on the 17th. Picture: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Rory McIlroy says his initial indifference, and even scorn, for the idea of Olympic golf was down to an ignorance and naivety that has been the cause of that and other changes of mind throughout his career.

The four-time major champion elected against competing in Rio in 2016 and admitted a resentment at having to choose nationality between Team GB and Ireland. He eventually agreed to represent this country given he had done so at underage and amateur levels.

He is now a complete convert to the cause, as was the case with the Ryder Cup.

“I think the one thing that we've been taken aback by is just how many people are out there,” he said after his third round 66 at Le Golf National. “I think that was the thing that I've been surprised by. Actually my first one was Tokyo.

“Especially the contrast of having no-one here on the practise days, and then getting here and having 20,000 people, it's really cool. I think that's been the big talking point, just how great the support has been for us out here.

“I think I was in a certain mindset going into Tokyo and I left with a different mindset, just like I've done a lot of times in my career because I'm ignorant and naïve and don't give things much thought. But once you experience things you start to see what the hype is about.” 

The Holywood man feels he has propelled himself into Olympic medal contention with his bogey-free, five-under par round on Saturday that leaves him on the coattails of the tournament leaders.

Jon Rahm and Xander Shcauffele are the joint leaders on 14-under, while Tommy Fleetwood is a further shot back. McIlroy sits at -10.

“Sort of getting a little better each and every day,” he explained. “The story of the first two days was the mistakes and today I went out with the mindset of trying to limit those mistakes, which I did. It was a really solid round of golf and puts me in contention for a medal tomorrow.

McIlroy has played the front nine in three-under every day so far and feels that if he can do the same on Sunday then he’ll be “right there” by the time the event comes down the final stretch at the 2018 Ryder Cup venue.

A whole host of top names are hanging around the summit with him.

“Yeah, it's amazing for the game to see all those sort the players up there. Obviously Xander who has had an incredible year; Scottie, best player in the world. You've got Jon Rahm, some younger players; Nicolai [Hojgaard] shooting 62 today.

“Yeah, it's an amazing leaderboard and should be an exciting day tomorrow.” McIlroy lost out on a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games three years ago in a playoff but, while Jason Day has described the atmosphere as something akin to one of the game’s majors, McIlroy sees it slightly differently.

“It's hard. You don't get this atmosphere at the Masters. It's different. I think it's a little more fun than a major. Sort of like a celebration in a way. But yeah, it has the feel of a big-time event for sure. Maybe the crowd is a little more enthusiastic.” 

The goal on Sunday is to shoot his lowest round of the week – a 65 at least. That’s what he believes will be needed to have a shot at winning that medal. Of course, that depends on what the players around him do too.