Harrington joins Olympic debate

Irishman offers thoughts on McIlroy and McDowell’s Team GB conundrum

Tough choices: McDowell and McIlroy must choose which Olympic team to declare for.

Three-time major-winner Padraig Harrington has waded into the debate over which team Irish pair Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell should join in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The contentious issue has divided opinion with the Northern Irish golfers eligible to compete for Team GB but having represented Ireland in various international team golf competitions in recent years, such as the Omega Mission Hills World Cup

Harrington aired his views while talking to Setanta Sports new programme called “The Cut Line” which will air at 10pm on Saturday evening.

He said: “I’m fascinated with all this conversation about who we declare for. If Rory and Graeme declare for Great Britain, it means we get two more Irish guys into it – as in myself and Darren Clarke get to play.”

“So, if somebody wants Rory to be as Irish as he can be, he better declare for GB.”

Golf will be returning to the Olympics in 2016 after over a century. The last time the sport was played at the Games was in 1904, where Canadian George Lyon took the gold.

Meanwhile, an announcement on who has won the tender to design the Olympic course will be announced later this afternoon.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered