Graeme McDowell yesterday says he wants Rory McIlroy playing alongside him at this year’s World Cup, reagrdless of how their participation might affect their options for which nation they represent at the 2016 Olympic games. McDowell also said the prospect of being tied to Ireland following an appearance at the World Cup would not stop him playing.
McDowell was speaking with reporters at Sawgrass, in advance of this weekend's TPC Players Championship.
“There’s been a huge amount of speculation about it. In regards to the World Cup golf this year, for example, with the rule in there that says that if Rory and I have represented Ireland, which we would represent Ireland if we both played this year, then we’d be compelled to play for Ireland in the Olympic Games. Is that rule going to stand?
“And the Olympics will not enter my head making a decision whether I’m going to play for Ireland in the World Cup this year, because it’s an event I’d love to play. So like I say, if it compels me to, if it forces me into playing for Ireland in the Olympics in 2016, so be it,” he said.
McDowell and McIlroy have played together on many occasions, both for Ireland and Ryder Cup teams, and he said he hopes to have McIlroy alongside him again at Royal Melbourne.
“I had an informal conversation with Rory about are we going to play the World Cup together, because I’d love to do that. And now I think they’ve announced it’s going to be at Royal Melbourne, which is a cool and amazing golf course. I’d love to play for Ireland in the World Cup.
“I know, that’s what I said to him, what are you doing? I need my partner in crime with me in Melbourne. So we’ll see. It’s an interesting thing.
“Regardless whether Rory wants to play or not, I want to play this year.”
For most golfers the Olympic games remains a distant proposition, and one not really worth thinking about just yet. For McDowell and McIlroy it has become a central theme, returned to repeatedly by reporters.
“I think you can ask any golfers this week, they probably haven’t quantified in their head what the Olympics are going to mean to them. It’s a very special thing to be part of. Where’s it going to fit into the golfing ethos, golfing hierarchy of events. We’ve talked about the big four; the Olympics should theoretically slip in and make it the big five. But I don’t think anyone’s got their head around it yet,” McDowell said.
