Tour News
McIlroy withdraws from Olympics due to Zika concerns
Rory McIlroy has become the highest profile golfer to withdraw from this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, citing concerns over the Zika virus.
“After speaking with those closest to me, I’ve come to realize that my health and my family’s health comes before anything else,” the golfer said in a statement. “Even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take.”
McIlroy is currently the No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and would have represented Ireland in the Games. He joins a growing list of golfers who will not participate in Rio, including Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Marc Leishman and Vijay Singh. Rickie Fowler, No. 6 in the OWGR, has also cast doubt that he will participate in Rio.
“I trust the Irish people will understand my decision,” McIlroy said. “The unwavering support I receive every time I compete in a golf tournament at home or abroad means the world to me.”
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Cognizant Classic —FKA the Honda Classic.
The first leg of the PGA Tour’s traditional “Florida swing,” the Cognizant Classic continues to be contested at PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, host course of the 1983 Ryder Cup and 1987 PGA Championship. The course is known for its famed “Bear Trap,” a three-hole stretch of holes that take their name from Jack “The Golden Bear” Nicklaus, who redesigned the course in 2002.
The Bear Trap includes No. 15 (a par 3), No. 16 (a par 4), and No. 17 (a par 4). All three holes involve water and have led to several big numbers from Tour players over the years.
Check out an assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums below.
We’ll continue to update the galleries as more photos flow in from Florida!
General Albums
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #3
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #4
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Tuesday #1
WITB Albums
- Brandt Snedeker – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Max Greyserman – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Eric Cole – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Carl Yuan – WITb – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Russell Henley – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Justin Suh – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Alex Noren – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Shane Lowry – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Taylor Montgomery – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) – WITB – – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Sam Ryder – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Maverick McNealy – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Tua Tagovailoa mini WITB (NFL QB, Miami Dolphins) – 2024 Cognizant Classic
Pullout Albums
- New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- LA Golf new insert putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- New Swag covers – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Jacob Bridgeman’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Bud Cauley’s custom Cameron putters – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Ryo Hisatsune’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Chris Kirk – new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters
- Alejandro Tosti’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Joohyung Tom Kim’s “new” center-shafted Scotty Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Jordan Speeth
Jun 25, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Why would anyone (OK, I get it with 20 something “amateur” athletes) want to go anywhere near Rio and, especially since they’ll have to spend two weeks there? That place is an absolute nightmare…no where in the world is it worse besides maybe Mogadishu or somewhere like that. When Michael Jackson was there about 20 years ago people were throwing children in front of his motorcade with the hopes of collecting money. That’s not to mention that the biggest sport in Rio is the kidnapping of wealthy foreigners for ransom and, if they don’t get the dough quickly enough….bang. The criminals there are the most bloodthirsty on earth. Think they’re not going to target someone like Rory who’s got $100MM in the bank? Please. I’d wonder about his judgement if he did go. Anybody who knows anything about Rio knows what a dangerous place it is, especially right now and during those Games. The only people that will be there will be idiots and athletes. I’ll be surprised if anyone shows up. Those that do go will be on their own, count on that.
Bob
Jun 24, 2016 at 8:27 pm
Why anyone with millions in the bank would step foot in that 3rd world sh_thole is beyond my comprehension. The Olympics are a media promoted joke.
golfraven
Jun 23, 2016 at 8:27 am
I guess Rory is having ideas for family planning and kids so understandably he is not willing to take risk. Oh well, I am sure he will be in the mix in 4 years.
8thehardway
Jun 23, 2016 at 3:16 am
Olympic Golf doesn’t feel right to me but now I have to watch. Like Trevino tossing a 3-foot rubber snake at or to Jack in the 1971 Open at Merion, I’m looking for someone to do the same with a foot-long Zika-mosquita and you can bet Rory will be counting swats during the round. I know Seve would have swatted at invisible ones while an opponent was putting.
Mark
Jun 23, 2016 at 2:44 am
Well done Rory. Hopefully other top players will follow suit. Golf should have nothing to do with the corrupt Olympic movement that only makes decisions once the bribes have cleared in their bank accounts.
Bert
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Some here are so full of hate – amazing. They hate Roy and each others as well, not hard to pick out. Seldom a positive or constructive comment.
john
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:42 pm
makes sense golfers would pull out seeing as though it’s a mosquito borne virus and the golf course is built on a mosquito prone piece of land… once jason and jordan pull out – the golf wont be worth watching. Thankfully Japan paid the most in bribes for 2020 so the IOC let them have a go and we wont have this rubbish.
GB
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:10 pm
He was at the NI match in France the other day, and I am sure he realized he is patriotically from NI and not RoI and was able to cleanse his conflicted feelings and helped him decide to not show up at all because he probably would have preferred to have played for NI which would have been under the GB banner ha-ha-ha
Beezer
Jun 22, 2016 at 4:51 pm
These guys can afford to carry a bottle of DEET in their staff bags and buy a box of Kimonos when they get home— most in Brazil cannot. It’s typical internet media showing the population whining about how bad the Olympics have gotten– not one person suggesting that the Games is worth saving at all. They must not remember how amazing it can be.
emmizzle
Jun 23, 2016 at 2:35 pm
agreed
Smitty
Jun 22, 2016 at 2:48 pm
The Olympics are a joke, particularly this one in Rio. I can’t say that I blame any of the guys who have backed out.
Slugga Meat
Jun 22, 2016 at 2:43 pm
What IF…….Golf in the Olympics were a success and people really wanted a lot more of it than the haters that have posted so far, then it may be the fifth major and Rory would have lost a chance to secure that trophy for that overrated player that is horrible at putting
The dude
Jun 22, 2016 at 4:46 pm
5th Major….did you type that with a straight face?
Forsbrand
Jun 22, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Olympics should be cancelled FULL STOP this year! It’s too much of a risk
Rev G
Jun 22, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Sorry my geography wasn’t correct. The course was built on a nature preserve either way.
Skittle Diddle
Jun 22, 2016 at 12:46 pm
Actually it can be passed to a partner sexually and cause microcephaly during conception or in an already pregnant woman. So get your facts straight genius.
Rio=Nasty
Jun 22, 2016 at 12:29 pm
Have you even seen the conditions the stadiums are in? Un-playable. There will be no Olympics at the rate Rio is preparing for them.
300 Yard Pro
Jun 22, 2016 at 11:41 am
I’m only going to watch the Games to hear about all the crime.
300 Yard Pro
Jun 22, 2016 at 11:38 am
Zilka = AKA Getting your guts stabbed out for the $15 in your wallet.
Tom
Jun 22, 2016 at 11:20 am
They way Rory has been workin out it looks like he already has zeka.
Vancouver Mellencamp
Jun 22, 2016 at 10:59 am
Good for Rory. The Olympics are a bloated, corrupt, steroid-fuelled sham. Add in the Zika virus and it’s an easy choice. Not to mention professional golf has absolutely NO place in these games.
Steve
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:30 pm
I’d love to hear a good reason why…
Rev G
Jun 22, 2016 at 10:39 am
The Olympics are the most tainted, poorly rain, scandalous sporting events around. Why is golf even in this thing. All the golfers should boycott. They seriously tore down 300 acres of rain forest to build a course for two weeks of golf in a country and region that has no interest in golf. As hard as the R&A, USGA, the Golf Course Superintendant Associations are working to clean up golf’s environmental impact – these idiots go and tear down rain forest for a course – unbelievable. The olympics should go back to being a track and field/swimming event for amateurs – that’s when it was interesting and still pure.
GRobs
Jun 22, 2016 at 12:34 pm
It was a sandbank habitat. Not saying if it was wrong or right but get your story straight.
Steve
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:33 pm
How was it “pure”? A lot of those amateurs were juiced up. The only reason they are/were amateurs is because nobody will pay to watch other people run in a circle and swim. BORING.
James Jones
Jun 27, 2016 at 7:15 am
I don’t think you’re right… The region where the golf course was built was a sandbank habitat, and yes, in Brazil we have interest in golf.
TCJ
Jun 22, 2016 at 9:56 am
+1
Mark Moser
Jun 22, 2016 at 10:22 am
He will
Then be infected and can pass it along to a home he has intercourse with or even kisses as it can be spread through saliva!! NFW!!!!
Skittle Diddle
Jun 22, 2016 at 12:47 pm
-1
dr abo
Jun 22, 2016 at 9:48 am
Golf is not a sport, who cares…
Travis
Jun 22, 2016 at 11:17 am
Says the man who lives in moms basement!
“MOM”! “Meatloaf”!
setter02
Jun 22, 2016 at 9:39 am
I’m sure security is also a big concern. You’ll have piles of millionaire Pro athletes around and temptation will large for those unsavory people who prey on others. Zika is the polite way of saying ‘GFYS’. Its also a bad time of year for the top players focusing on the events that actually matter to them. That and who actually cares about the Olympics anymore outside of a few events?
Timbleking
Jun 22, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Strange comment. 2 years ago, the FIFA World Cup was in Brasil with much more millionaires and nothing happened security wise.
KJ
Jun 22, 2016 at 9:17 am
Good for Rory. Zika aside, the Olympics just aren’t what they used to be. Politics and corruption by the Olympic Committee has tarnished the medals won by great athletes. In my opinion, it’s silly to even have golf in the Olympics. No offense and golf is a sport but even professional golfers are not necessarily athletes to the caliber of true Olympians. Lastly, we have four majors, four World Golf Championships and the Ryder Cup. That’s more than enough significant events for the world to absorb. There will be many more players that’ll drop out. The floodgates have opened.
Steve
Jun 22, 2016 at 9:15 am
Unless your a athlete that needs the Olympics to showcase your skills, track and field, diving, swimming etc. Why would you go there? Diseases, crime, possibly terror attacks. It should be the top amateur golfers anyway, but that ship has sailed.
Weeds
Jun 22, 2016 at 8:51 am
Why not just tell the truth and say he has no interest in playing in the Olympics. People will get over it. This is a very lame cop out unless Rory thinks he’s going to get knocked up in the near future.
Milo
Jun 22, 2016 at 10:09 am
The guy can get Zika and pass it on to his spouse through intercourse.
Milo
Jun 22, 2016 at 10:13 am
He can pass it on like a STD
JR
Jun 22, 2016 at 8:47 am
I do not blame him for doing this. I also have a feeling that more golfers will do the same when they find out the risk involved and the pit they will be going to in order to compete! More than just the Zika virus to worry about in that country.
The Dude
Jun 22, 2016 at 8:26 am
More players to come……spending 7 hours a day outside puts the golfers at highest risk……anyway…golf in the Olympics…few people even care…
Tom
Jun 22, 2016 at 11:22 am
geez ya came to this site.. a golf site to post a negative comment about the sport you play?
The dude
Jun 22, 2016 at 4:54 pm
I love Golf…but also a realist….an easy combination to coexist 🙂