Rory McIlroy has been offered the opportunity to represent his country, Ireland, at the Olympics, which LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau is unable to do due to his ranking.
Rory McIlroy can accomplish something that Bryson DeChambeau, the recent US Open winner, cannot this summer: represent his country at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
It has been claimed that the 35-year-old and Shane Lowry will represent Ireland at Le Golf National. The Olympic qualifying season ended on Sunday, with McIlroy squandering his chance to win his first major in a decade in tragic circumstances when DeChambeau surpassed him at the death.
Currently, the top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) are eligible to compete in the Olympics, with each country limited to four players because the rules state that only 60 golfers can participate. Those countries without players in the top 15 are limited to two, with host France qualifying with Matthieu Pavon and Victory Perez.
However, DeChambeau’s situation is complicated by the fact that the OWGR does not acknowledge LIV Golf events, therefore the American had a difficult time competing for Olympic placing. Xander Schauffele (No. 3), Wyndham Clark (No. 5), Collin Morikawa (No. 7), and Scottie Scheffler (No. 1) will represent the United States in Paris.
If DeChambeau’s performance with LIV Golf had continued, he would very certainly have made the squad. Speaking on the Pat McAfee show, the American expressed his desire to represent the United States, but he is unable to do so because five Americans are ahead of him in the standings.
“I would love to represent the United States,” the 30-year-old Californian stated. “It was difficult for me the last time around due of Covid; it was just one of those things that happened.
“Hopefully, one day, the game of golf will be worked out and brought back together so that I can play. I’m playing fantastic golf, and I’m excited, but I’m also frustrated and unhappy. I made the decisions I did, and there are repercussions to them, which I respect. But perhaps sooner rather than later, we’ll figure it out.”
McIlroy sees the Olympics as an opportunity to redeem himself following a poor closing round at Pinehurst. The Northern Irishman stated that he is taking a vacation from golf to refocus after his meltdown, especially given how close he was to snapping his decade-long wait to win another major.
“Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer,” McIlroy wrote in a lengthy social media statement. “First, I’d like to congratulate Bryson. He is a deserving champion and precisely what professional golf requires right now. I believe we can all agree on that.
“As I look on my week, I’ll mourn a few things that happened during the tournament, most notably the two missed putts on 16 and 18 on the last day. But, as I always strive to do, I’ll focus on the week’s positives, which outweigh the disadvantages. As I stated at the beginning of the competition, I am closer to winning my next major championship than I have ever been.
“The one word that most describes my career is resilient. In the last 17 years, I’ve demonstrated my resilience numerous times, and I will continue to do so. I’m going to take a few weeks off from golf to analyze everything and prepare for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon.”
The golf events at the Olympics will take place from August 1 through August 10.