Rory McIlroy to Britain, Ireland: Isle wait, thanks
October 9, 2012 10:46PM
BNP Paribas Showdown
Updated: November 11, 2012 6:25AM
‘I have absolutely not made a decision regarding my participation in the next Olympics,” golf star Rory McIlroy wrote in an open letter on Twitter.
The decision McIlroy refers to is whether the Northern Ireland native will represent Great Britain or Ireland.
McIlroy’s letter came after he told the Daily Mail, ‘‘I’ve always felt more British than Irish.’’
Northern Ireland is a part of Britain, but McIlroy can compete for Ireland because he competed internationally as an amateur for the Golfing Union of Ireland, which includes mainland Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Now the Irish are offering McIlroy the honor of carrying their flag in the Opening Ceremony to sway his decision.
Pat Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, told the Telegraph, ‘‘Can you just imagine what this would do for Rory McIlroy? It would suddenly catapult him into the realms of being one of the most instantly recognizable sporting faces on the planet.’’
As if winning two majors, being the No. 1 golfer in the world and dating a glamorous tennis star aren’t enough.
