Whatever you might think of golf as an Olympic sport (or as any kind of a sport, for that matter), the attitude of the sport's giants speaks volumes. The top four men's players in the world (Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy) have now all decided not to participate in the upcoming Rio Olympics.
Their stated reason is concern over the Zika virus that is overshadowing the Games. But it is notable that the top women golfers, who might be expected to be even more concerned about Zika than the men, ARE attending the Games.
The difference turns out to be that the LPGA Tour has decided to take a hiatus during the Olympics, freeing up the women to attend. The men's PGA Tour, however, will continue as usual, with three major tournaments (paying a total prize money of $16.8 million).
It is no big surprise, then, that the men are staying away and women are going. But please don't try and tell me that justifiable health concerns are top of mind.
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