Golfer Rory McIlroy has claimed he doesn’t want to be committed to any flag as the furore surrounding his Olympic future grows.

The world number one has admitted in an interview with Irish state broadcaster RTE that he doesn’t want to be tied down to a flag.

In the documentary ‘Rory McIlroy – The Interview’, the County Down native admits that he doesn’t want to upset anyone in Ireland or Britain with his decision ahead of the Rio games in 2016.

The 23-year-old also claims in the TV programme, to be broadcast on Thursday night, that he is in an impossible position when it comes to choosing between Ireland or Britain for the next Olympics.

McIlroy said: “It’s a tough one. Being from Northern Ireland it brings its own difficulties whenever you have to choose who to play for or an allegiance.

“It’s just a difficult position to be in because you don’t want to let anyone down and you don’t want to upset anyone.”

McIlroy got a taste of the bitterness to come when he said in an interview in September that he was leaning toward representing Great Britain.

He was abused on Twitter before clarifying his position on the social network site.

Now he has told RTE that he doesn’t feel that he wants to be just defined by the tricolour or the Union Jack in his sports career.

McIlroy added: “I feel I’m more than just a flag. I play golf and I’m an international sports person and it doesn’t tie me to one flag or one allegiance.”