Rory McIlroy has no regrets about his outspoken comments about the Olympics at Troon earlier this week, but he did elaborate on them after his round yesterday.
The former Open champion told a press conference earlier in the week that he wouldn’t watch golf at the Olympics and instead watch “the ones (sports) that matter”, and added that he wasn’t in golf to grow the game but to win championships.
After his opening 69 at Royal Troon yesterday he admitted that he might have explained himself better.
“I think I would have elaborated a little bit on the grow-the-game comment, obviously I feel like I do my bit to grow the game.
“It’s not as if I’m uninterested. Golf is a great vehicle to instill values in kids. I’m an ambassador for the PGA Junior League, I do some stuff for the First Tee in the States, and I feel like I’ve used my success in golf in a very positive way in the community.”
The Northern Irishman gives more than £1 million to his own cancer care foundation each year and is involved in many fund raising initiatives.
“I don’t want to force the game on anyone,” he continued. “If I can somehow make a positive change in the world by what I do on the golf course, so whether that means raise money for charity or give kids more of a chance in life growing up, I feel like I’ve used that success in a positive way.
His views on golf’s inclusion in the Olympic Games are unchanged, however.
“I still don’t think I’m the only one. I think my opinion’s shared by a few people, but some people may think it’s wrong and that’s fine.
“I’ve spent seven years trying to please everyone, and I figured out that I can’t really do that, so I may as well be true to myself.”
