AKRON, Ohio – Aussie Jason Day said the risk to his family outweighed the reward of winning a gold medal.
The world No. 1, citing the threat of the Zika virus, said Tuesday that he would not play in the Rio Olympics. Day joined four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott as the biggest names to drop out of the Olympics.
Concerns of the Zika virus, security, political upheaval, travel and schedule has led others to withdraw. Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who tied for second in the U.S. Open two weeks ago, also withdrew on Tuesday.
“I just can't put my family through that, especially with the future children we're looking at having,” Day said at Firestone Country Club, where the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational begins Thursday. “My wife wants four kids, and obviously if we're having four kids I need to make sure that the priority is family first."
Day and his wife, Ellie, have two children, Dash and Lucy.
“I understand and sympathize with everyone that has made the decision to withdraw their names, but I also understand what an honor it is to represent your country and try to win a gold medal. That's why it was so hard for me to pull out. To be able to be one of Australia's first to represent golf in the Olympics would be an honor, but it's just so hard because of what's going on.”
Now Day wants to move on.
He has won three tournaments – the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the WGC-Dell Match Play and The Players Championship – and is getting ready for a big stretch of golf that includes this week’s WGC event, the British Open, the RBC Canadian Open and the PGA Championship in the next five weeks.
His record on Firestone’s South Course is spotty. In six starts, he’s had just one top-10 finish. Last year, he tied for 12th, with the course’s signature hole, the par-5 16th, ruining his scorecard. He was 5 over on the hole for the week.
But so far this week he likes what he sees on the South. He likes the forecast, too, as sun and heat should continue to dry the course out.
“The tougher the better,” Day said. “If it dries out, it's going to be difficult because the ball is going to be bouncing. They're not going to be stopping pretty much dead-on where it's landing because of the dryness of the ground.
“And if (the ball) starts going to the rough, then you're going to catch a little bit more fliers because it's starting to dry out. And the greens are going to be firmer, it's going to be harder. The greens are pretty narrow. They're pretty small. That said, it's going to be hard to hit greens, then you've got to try to get up-and-down. And then once (the greens) get to tournament speed, which is 13, maybe a little bit over 13, with the pitch on these greens it's going to be tough to get up-and-down. With all that said, it's challenging from tee to green.
“I think the harder the better hopefully, the better it works out for me.”
Monday Day played the course, which was closed to the public.
“It was quite peaceful out there, and I got some good work in, played 18 holes, and definitely looking forward to the start of the week,” Day said. “Once Thursday comes around, I'm pumped because I think we're going to have some nice weather and it should make it nice, dry, hard and fast for everyone. ...
“I feel confident about my game. I feel good about where my game is at. I've had a good week off, and I've practiced pretty hard, prepped very well coming into this week, and I feel rested physically but more so mentally.”
