Jason Day Considering Skipping Olympics over Zika Concerns

Jason Day has joined the list of golfers who are either not competing or are considering not competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics. After his second round at the Memorial Tournament, Day told media members that after reading about Francisco Rodriguez’s battle with the Zika virus, he and his wife Ellie, who have two young children and want to have more children, will consult with professionals before they decide whether or not to make the trek to Brazil.

Via Golf Digest:

"“It’s difficult to say right now,” the world No. 1 said from Muirfield Village, site of this week’s Memorial. “We’re just really trying to monitor what’s going on and make an educated decision because obviously we’re not done having kids.” “Obviously it could happen here in the states, but I think if you are putting yourself down there there is a chance of you getting it,” Day said. “We are going to explore every avenue to make sure we make an educated decision before we go down there. “It’s just hard. It’s a medical issue. We will see. We have to see an independent doctor, not just the PGA doctor. I’m not saying it’s bias. I’m just saying we need independent advice. I think there’s a lot of guys who are on the fence about it because they don’t want to put themselves in harms way of it.” “I don’t think it’s an Olympic issue, I don’t think it’s a Rio issue,” Day said. “I think it’s a medical issue that’s attached to the what happens if I go there, get it, and bring it back. Because they don’t know. The recommendation from the CDC is X but you don’t know how long it will last in your body for. So I am a little wary on it and once again I just have to make a smart educated decision on whether I go or not.”"

If Day pulls out of the Olympics, that would mean that the top two Australians, Adam Scott and Day, wouldn’t be in the field, and as the No. 1 golfer in the world, his decision could have as much of an impact as Rory McIlroy’s would have on whether or not golf is voted into the Olympics beyond 2020.

However, McIlroy has since come out and said that after consulting with his doctors that he will play in the Olympics.

Dustin Johnson also said he is going to play, if he makes the team.

"“I’m going to play,” he said. “I’ll just probably go down there with me and my caddie. I don’t think; the family’s not going to go. But, yeah, I’m definitely going to play. I’m excited to play … if I make the team.”"

If Day were to skip the Olympics, he would join Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, Marc Leishman, Vijay Singh and Miguel Angel Jimenez on the list of golfers who won’t be competing in Rio.