Australia’s Adam Scott won’t play in Olympics, report says
Declined: Interest in participating in the Tokyo Olympics, Australia’s Adam Scott, according to a report by Rex Hoggard on GolfChannel.com. Scott, 40, a 14-time winner on the PGA Tour, ranks No. 35 in the world and is the second-highest Australian in the Official World Golf Ranking. His announcement, which came via his agent, means that No. 25 Cameron Smith and No. 37 Marc Leishman, partners at this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans two-man team event, have the inside track to what likely will be two spots for Australia. Johan Elliot of Sportyard International said the timing of Olympic golf, to be played July 29-Aug. 1, doesn’t fit Scott’s schedule. “With the world being the way it is, Adam is gone 4-5 weeks at a time this year during his playing blocks,” Elliot said in a statement to GolfChannel.com. “With three young children at home, this time in the schedule will be devoted to family. It is pretty much the only time up until October when he has a chance to see them for a stretch of time and not only a few days/a week.” The Olympics are two weeks after the British Open at Royal St. George’s in England and one week before the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis, Tenn. Scott is the second prominent male player to opt out of the Olympics. Last month, American Dustin Johnson said he had no interest in participating. Scott and Johnson also declined to play in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, citing concerns about the Zika virus. The top 15 in the world ranking will be eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from any nation. Beyond the top 15, players will be eligible based on the OWGR, with a maximum of two players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15.
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