World number one Jason Day has hit back at critics of the golfers who have elected to skip the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Golf’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 has been soured by the withdrawals of a number of top men’s players, many of whom have cited health concerns due to the outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil.
Rio Games chief Carlos Nuzman told a media event in Rio over the weekend that top players had “tried to blame Zika, but the media have shown that they are not coming because there’s no prize money.”
International Golf Federation President Peter Dawson also said there had been an “over-reaction” to the threat of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that can cause potentially severe birth defects in babies whose mothers were infected during pregnancy.
Day, who withdrew last month and cited Zika as his main concern, hit back at suggestions that the lack of prize money was behind the withdrawals.
“I mean, we’ve got enough money, you know what I mean,” Day told the Australian Associated Press after signing off from the British Open at Royal Troon. “And I don’t mean to make that sound in a bad way. It’s not like we’re chasing it because of that. “We play the Presidents Cup, there’s no prize money.
“You go down there to (Rio) win a gold medal. That’s probably one of the biggest honours you could get as a sporting athlete.
“Unfortunately, if it was Tokyo this year, I’d be there in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s unfortunate.”
Day’s compatriot, world number eight Adam Scott, was among the first to opt out but put it down to a packed schedule and his lack of interest in playing another 72-hole individual strokeplay tournament. He said Nuzman’s assertion was “not accurate”.
“I don’t know where he would get that idea. That’s just assumptions and I think they’ve made a lot — and obviously that’s dangerous. “I mean, I made my decision based on my priorities and where my life’s at at the moment.”
The flood of withdrawals, which have included the world’s top four players and a number of other major winners, has fanned fears golf’s return to the Olympics may be a brief one.
The sport is confirmed for the 2020 Tokyo Games but its future participation will be subject to an IOC vote.

Ko heads NZ entries for golf
World number one Lydia Ko will be New Zealand’s sole entrant in the women’s golf tournament at the Rio Olympics, with Danny Lee and Ryan Fox taking the two men’s spots.
Ko is one of New Zealand’s top medal prospects in Rio, having taken the LPGA tour by storm since she turned professional in late 2013.
The 19-year-old has won two major championships in the last 12 months and finished no worse than a tie for third in the other three.
“I’m super excited to represent New Zealand to be able to see the village, the food court and just everything its going to be so cool!” Ko said in a New Zealand Olympic Committee statement on Monday.
Lee has been quietly climbing the world rankings in the last two years and won his first title on the PGA Tour last year at the Greenbrier Classic.
He is currently ranked 40th in the world, but with restrictions of just four players from any one country, he is the 12th highest-ranked player in the field.
Fox, the son of former All Blacks flyhalf and current selector Grant, qualified for the Olympics through a quota spot after two top five finishes on the European Challenge Tour.
“The Olympic Games are a pinnacle sporting event and I can say I’m the third generation of my family to represent New Zealand in three different sports, so its a pretty cool thing to be able to do,” said Fox. While his father played rugby for New Zealand, his maternal grandfather Merv Wallace played international cricket for the country in a career interrupted by World War Two. He captained the team in his final two tests, against South Africa in 1953.
“This is a truly proud moment for New Zealand Golf and we believe these three athletes have a great chance in Rio and will represent the country with pride,” New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy said. “It has been an exciting few years for golf in this country and the Rio Olympic Games will be a special moment for the players and golf fans alike.”