Will Rory McIlroy declare for Britain or Ireland in 2016 Olympics? -- Both Irish and British likely to claim golf’s hottest superstar
Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 08:08 AM
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| Northern Irish world champion golfer Rory McIlroy |
As a Catholic reared in Northern Ireland, Rory has come under intense scrutiny for his political views.
His grand uncle was murdered in The Troubles by Loyalist paramilitaries but McIlroy has never discussed it.
McIlroy has avoided all political discussion. The only incident of note came when some nationalists claimed he brushed off an Irish tricolor that was thrown at him after his 2011 win at the US Open but the video is inconclusive to say the least.
His compatriot and fellow golf major winner Graeme McDowell, who is a Protestant, gets no such scrutiny as it is widely accepted he will play with Britain.
But Rory will have a more difficult decision to make. Catholic athletes in the main declare for the Irish Republic but Rory has made it clear he considers himself Northern Irish first and his website reflects that with the red hand of Ulster flag.
But does he think of himself as more British than Irish? That will be the big question come 2016 when he should be on top of the world.
Just two years ago when asked, Rory said it would be Great Britain and Northern Ireland if he made the cut. But in 2008 he played for Ireland in the golf World Cup.
But more recently he says he doesn't know.
"Basically, if I am going to be very honest, which I usually am, whatever I say is going to upset someone," he said. "So I may as well just say I don't know and wait until four or five years' time, whenever I have to make a decision."
He holds a British passport and it is unknown if he has an Irish one.
He has succeeded in making his religion a non-issue – most Northern Irish people know which religion someone is right away --- but for many years people were unsure of what religion McIlroy was.
A New York Times profile of him by Niall Stanage referred to that very fact, saying it was an extraordinary achievement by McIlroy in his own right in having both sides cheer equally for him.
Fellow major winner Padraig Harrington may have had it right when he suggested Rory definitely declare for Britain, thereby making room for another Irish guy on the Irish team.
"I’m fascinated with all this conversation about who we declare for. If Rory and Graeme declare for Great Britain, it means we get two more Irish guys into it. So if somebody wants Rory to be as Irish as he can be, he better declare for GB and we get two more guys in."
Sounds like a plan for a lot of people.
His agent says Rory is no hurry to deal with it. "Rory hasn't even thought about the 2016 Olympics," said Conor Ridge, "It's four years away and God knows where he's going to be in his career at that time.
"He's 23 now and will be 27 when Rio comes round, so it's not even something to discuss at this stage," said Ridge of the Dublin sports management firm Horizon, which represents McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. See more: Irish in Golf
51 comments
citizen69 | Aug 14, 2012, 03:42 PM EDT
@CindyDoyle: Yes Rory is Irish but as he is from Northern Ireland he is eligible to play for Team GB (which represents Great Britain & Northern Ireland) or Team Ireland (representing Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland). Northern Irish is part of the British Identity as is Scottish, Welsh & English. British & Irish are not mutually exclusive. @Branagh: As for him not being good enough, he is world No. 1 and i have no doubt he'll be a major force in golf well beyond the 2016 Olympics.
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hancock | Aug 14, 2012, 03:31 PM EDT
Feherty said McIlroy would play for Ireland during the telecast. Know he is a loose cannon , but also close to McIlroy, as he is to all the golfers in Ireland north and south.
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branagh | Aug 14, 2012, 03:05 PM EDT
A bit of modesty is in order-McIlroy would probably never even make a Team GB based on his performance in early 2012.
As his agent has wisely said,it's four years to Rio-perhaps,by then he might not make a Team Ireland either.
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butlerreport | Aug 14, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT
Born in NI and a British citizen...he's certainly not Irish.
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cillowen | Aug 14, 2012, 02:44 PM EDT
rory won't win either way
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GregShox | Aug 14, 2012, 02:44 PM EDT
Golf in the Olympics. What next -- poker?
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MegK311 | Aug 14, 2012, 01:47 PM EDT
I was born and raised in N.Ireland and I am proud to be from N.I. and I am also proud to say I am from Ireland. When watching the O;ympics I supported the Irish regardless of what part of Ireland they were from or whether they were Catholic or Protestant. We are all from a Island called Ireland. I now live in the U.S. But there is a big place in my heart for the people of England. Ireland Scotland and Wales. I think it is unfair to place this burden on Rory let him enjoy his success playing golf. We can all be proud of him.
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Sparklet | Aug 14, 2012, 01:33 PM EDT
Britain and Ireland can claim as much as they like. Surely it's up to Rory?
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Cranleigh | Aug 14, 2012, 01:22 PM EDT
The real question is why golf will be in the Olympics at all. It's an absurdly overpaid pastime as far from real athletics as one can get. And I speak as a golfer. No doubt coverage of the 5000m final will be even more truncated next time as we go live to some slob wandering about a field.
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CindyDoyle | Aug 14, 2012, 12:37 PM EDT
As an Irish American, I don't get it. I live in America. Rory lives in Ireland. I am AMERICAN, He is IRISH.
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citizen69 | Aug 14, 2012, 12:29 PM EDT
Rory is British & Irish, as many people from Northern Ireland are. He's proud to be both as is Graeme McDowell & Darren Clarke. They all have no problem referring to themselves as Irish, It's just that some idiots can't handle the fact that they're also British. It doesn't matter to me if he plays for Team GB & NI or Team Ireland as either way he will still be playing for home soil. Five Northern Irish athletes won Olympic medals this year in London, three for GB&NI and two for Ireland. They all done the people of NI (and further afield) proud...@johnshiel: Yes 'Prods' also name their boys Rory! Rory Best of the Irish Rugby team is a northern 'Prod'.
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cillowen | Aug 14, 2012, 11:37 AM EDT
comments prevented
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chuckyarla | Aug 14, 2012, 10:53 AM EDT
Rory knows what to do , do does not want to cause any hate or anger . he is Irish and will represent Ireland, England Scotland and Wales people should represent where they come from not as a group
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cuculin | Aug 14, 2012, 10:46 AM EDT
The only people who will be making an issue of this are a few nationalistic nutcases and the media. Rory may be of Cath Irish stock as people claim but he is from Northern Ireland and will and should represent GBR. End of story. I am a huge golf fan and watch it week in week out not just because of Rory and it will be a total shame if this is made into a huge deal as he will be forced to give an answer that I am not sure us "Irish" will want to hear!
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