Jordan Spieth feeling added Rio burden

• Jordan Spieth feels he’s under added Olympics pressure
• The 22-year-old is still uncertain about teeing it up in Rio
• “Do I feel an added burden? Potentially,” he said.

Jordan Spieth feels he and the other three potential American Olympians are harbouring added pressure following the recent spate of high-profile withdrawals.

Rory McIlroy announced last week he would not be teeing it up in Rio and he was joined most recently by world No.1 Jason Day and Shane Lowry. It means the top three available players from Australia, Ireland and South Africa won’t be playing.

And, although Spieth is aware of his ‘poster boy’ reputation in American golf, he won’t be swayed in his decision-making when it comes to choosing whether to go to Rio or not.

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“Let’s not put me on save the Olympics,” said Jordan Spieth. “The Olympics are going to be fine. Do I feel an added burden? Potentially. I think all four of the Americans do. All four of the Americans that are in right now do.

“I feel like one of four with maybe a slightly higher burden now that the guys have dropped out from some of the — South Africans, the Aussies, and then quite a few others, Irish.

“Yeah, I think I’m one of four guys who will feel a little bit to it, but again, this decision is much bigger than that. This is personal safety type and future planning type decision, which is going to outweigh any kind of pressure that we would feel.”

Teams will be locked in on July 11 but Jordan Spieth says he still might not have his mind made up by then.

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“I don’t think you have to make your decision by then,” he said. “Right now I’m uncertain. Always been excited about the possible opportunity, but there’s quite a few different factors that would turn somebody away from going. It’s not just one, there’s quite a few factors.

“I personally have not received enough information that would allow me to make a confident decision either way at this point, so it’ll be as we gather further information I’ll be able to lean one way or the other, and when I feel confident on either side, I’ll make the choice.”

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