By Evin Priest
He doesn’t go to Rio … de Janeiro. The worst kept secret in Australian golf has been confirmed: Adam Scott will not fly the flag for Australian during the Summer Olympics in August after announcing his unavailability for the Rio games.
The world No.7 released a statement this morning, citing a busy playing schedule as well as professional and personal commitments.
Ranked inside the world’s top 15 golfers, the 2013 Masters champion was an automatic selection for the green and gold golf team but confirmed he had informed captain Ian Baker-Finch of his decision.
“My decision has been taken as a result of an extremely busy playing schedule around the time of the Olympics and other commitments, both personal and professional,” Scott’s statement read.
“I have informed the Australian Team captain and relevant authorities, who are understanding of my position and I wish the Australian Olympic Team the very best of luck in Rio.’
Quite the contrary to Scott’s lack of Olympic ambition is world No.1 Jason Day, who has publicly expressed his eagerness to win gold in Brazil.
Scott’s decision comes as no surprise after publicly condemning golf returning to the Olympics and the format of its re-introduction.
However, if there is a positive out of the 13-time US PGA Tour winner’s Olympics withdrawal, it would be an increase in the possibility of Scott choosing to tee it up for Australia at the World Cup of Golf at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath Golf Club. Given he’s no longer obligated to travel to Brazil from his Bahamas base in August, Scott returning Down Under for the Australian Open (November 17-20), World Cup of Golf ( November 21-27) and the European Tour’s co-sanctioned Australian PGA Championship the week after becomes more likely.
He and Day won the World Cup teams title in 2013.
