Gary Player hits out at Olympic withdrawals

• Gary Player speaks out on Olympic Games withdrawals
• “Players withdrawing hurt the game of golf,” said the 80-year-old
• Revealed that Charl Schwartzel also won’t be playing in Rio

Gary Player has said golf’s Olympic withdrawals are ‘hurting’ the sport – as he revealed a second South African player who won’t be teeing it up in Rio de Janeiro.

The 80-year-old, who is South Africa’s team captain, announced that Charl Schwartzel has joined Louis Oosthuizen in ruling himself out of consideration for the tournament, with the outspoken Player clearly let down by the news.

“Players today make so much and should be giving back” – Gary Player

“I am sad and disappointed that several top players have withdrawn from the Olympic Games in Rio,” said Player in a statement he released on Twitter. “I would have given anything to play in the Olympics. South Africa had a great team, but now obviously, it will not be as good.

“Players withdrawing hurt the game of golf. This certainly impacts South Africa’s chances to win a golf medal. No doubt they would have made our team even stronger.

CONTINUES BELOW…

“Players today make so much and should be giving back. The Olympics is one way they can do that since there is no prize money. It will undoubtedly grow the game worldwide no matter who plays and who doesn’t. All top players should think carefully about this. Many people fought tooth and nail for decades to get golf back in the Olympic Games, a true worldwide effort.

Read more -> Adam Scott WRONG to dismiss Olympic golf

“It will be a time that no living professional golfer has ever experienced. I will be there. Walking in the arena with the South African team during the Opening Ceremony will be incredible. I cannot wait to represent my country with pride.”

Schwartzel, whose reasons for opting out are currently unclear, is now the fourth known player to withdraw from the Olympics, following Vijay Singh, who cited the Zika virus, and Adam Scott and Oosthuizen, who both referred to an ‘extremely busy playing schedule’.

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Gary Player :: Do you agree with him?

Do you agree with Gary Player and his views on the Olympics? How many more players do you think will withdraw by the time the tournament comes around? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.