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Jul 4th, 2016

Hideki Matsuyama latest to pull out of Olympics

Dropping like flies. Or should that be mosquitos?

Hideki Matsuyama is the latest player to drop out of the Olympics. The world number 17 has been the breakout star that Japanese golf has long been searching for, but fears over Zika have caused him to pull out of Rio '16. 

“Although I am excited that golf is returning to the Olympics and I realize that my potential success would help grow the game in Japan, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot put myself or my team member’s health at risk.

“I have been getting information from all the concerned parties as well as my doctors about the situation in Rio but I cannot be 100 percent sure about my safety, and my team’s safety, from the Zika Virus.

“Additionally, my body has a tendency to react strongly to insect bites. Therefore, after careful thought, I made a heart wrenching decision not to participate in the Olympics this year.”

The line up for this is going downhill every day. Matsuyama is another big name to drop out following Jason Day, Rory McIlroy , Adam Scott, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel, Vijay Singh and, Marc Leishman. In the womens event only Lee-Anne Pace has withdrawn so far. At this rate if I can find an Aussie passport, I've got a chance of making the field, if the standings stopped today, there would be no Australians eligible to play after these withdrawals.

 

 

 

 

 

TAGS: Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day, Olympics, Zika, Rio '16, News, 2016