Rory McIlroy could be forced to play for Ireland in the 2016 Rio Olympics under IOC regulations, R&A chief executive Peter Dawson has suggested.
The World No 2 faces a contentious decision on whether to represent Great Britain or Ireland when golf returns to the games for the first time in a century, but Dawson suggested that it may be taken out of his hands.
Born in Holywood near Belfast, McIlroy has an option between the two countries if he qualifies for the restricted field, 72-hole Olympic event. Northern Ireland-born Olympians can make the choice between countries under the IOC charter.
McIlroy is under significant pressure from the communities on both side of the border to make a commitment.
The 23-year-old has hinted at missing the Olympic event altogether rather than make the choice, but Dawson, speaking in St Andrews, suggested the decision could be made for him.
“I think because Rory’s history of playing for Ireland at amateur level, and I think also at world cup level in the professionals, that there may be a regulation within the Olympic rules that would require him to stay with that,” said Dawson.
“It’s a little ambiguous really, but there is an IOC rule that if a player has represented one nation at a previous world championships, that has to carry with you into the games.
“The ambiguity is whether the world cup qualifies as a world championship, because golf isn’t structured the same way as other sports.”
The regulation would be studied to determine if it applied to McIlroy, but Dawson, a leading member of the International Golf Federation organising the sport’s return to the games, suggested it wants to help the player.
“I would very much like to take this burden of choice away from the player if we can possibly do it because it’s not fair to him,” he said. “I think he’s made it pretty clear in one of two pronouncements that he’s worried about it and the last thing we want is players worrying about this kind of thing.”
Dawson also admitted delays in the work to construct the course that will host the men’s and women’s golf events in Rio had been “worrying” but that all necessary permits had now been received.
“The Rio 2016 team rather than the IGF has to provide the venue, but now we can hopefully crack on,” he said.
“We expect the top players to compete, and the mood seems to be that they all will play. We went for a 72-hole strokeplay event for men and women because we wanted to be certain we had player support, we’ll go for that format in 2016, have a cracking good competition and then review it for future years.”