Another top golfer has withdrawn from the Olympics

Grace has won on the PGA and European Tour already this year

The list of golfers withdrawing from the Olympics continues to grow.

After the quickfire double of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, world number 11 Branden Grace has also released a statement saying that he won’t be making the trip to Rio.

“After serious consideration, it is with regret that I have decided to withdraw myself from the Olympic competition due to the risk posed by the Zika virus,” said the 28-year-old South African.

“Although it was a huge goal of mine to represent my country in the Olympics, we are getting married in November and hoping to start a family in the near future, so I must put the health of my family first.”

With wins on the PGA and European Tour under his belt this year, and a T-5 finish at the U.S. Open, Grace would have first choice for South Africa. With world number 14 Louis Oosthuizen and world number 23 Charl Schwartzel already having ruled themselves out, South Africa will now turn to world number 59 Jaco Van Zyl and world number 101 Brandon Stone – assuming neither of them pull out, of course.

The danger for Olympic Golf is that there is a snowball effect. As more players withdraw, it makes others think that ‘if so-and-so isn’t willing to risk going to Rio, why should I?’ It also makes it easier for players to withdraw without it seeming like a big deal or inviting criticism. 

Some fans have suggested that golfers are using the Zika virus as an excuse not to compete in an Olympics that holds little interest for some of the big names. 

Safety is the most important thing, of course, but for golf’s sake, we hope there are some top drawer players safe and willing to tee it up in Rio this August.