Graeme McDowell relieved Rio decision out of his hands

The best form of decision-making can often to be to let things take their own course. For Graeme McDowell, someone caught between a rock and a hard place on the somewhat thorny issue of which team to represent when golf returns to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, the choice has effectively been taken out of his hands.

By representing Ireland in the World Cup – where he is currently competing alongside Shane Lowry – in Royal Melbourne, McDowell's choice has been made for him. McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion and currently ranked 12th in the world, like any sportsman from Northern Ireland, has the right to represent either Ireland or Team GB in the Olympics.

In agreeing that it had been “a pretty touchy subject” for Northern Ireland players in recent years, McDowell – speaking to reporters in Melbourne – appeared relieved that the decision-making was over and that he could focus on golf.

He explained: “We are in a very unique scenario in Northern Ireland . . . we have sporting teams, teams that are all-Ireland teams, teams that are individual Northern Ireland teams, part of the UK, part of Great Britain, et cetera, et cetera. You know, it is a very touchy political and religious subject, one that myself and Rory (McIlroy) have not really enjoyed answering questions about the last few years because it is very difficult to pick a side because you are going to end up upsetting someone from either side really.”

Yet, McDowell – who is making his fourth appearance in the World Cup, having previously competed with McIlroy twice and Paul McGinley – made the point that he has played all his team golf through his amateur career as part of an all-island team.

Green jacket
"Golf is an old Ireland sport, kind of like rugby . . . we grew up wanting to wear the green jacket and have the golf bag with the Ireland logo on it and, you know, the Golfing Union of Ireland looks after all the players in Ireland. I have always enjoyed being part of that."

Having always played as part of an Irish team, golf’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 – following a decision taken by the IOC in 2009 – presented McDowell and McIlroy with a new issue. The top 15 off the world golf rankings will automatically get places in the field for Rio with a further 45 players taken off the world rankings to represent countries that don’t already have two representatives.

“When it comes to the Olympic discussions, that raises some questions as to who we play for. I was always trying to sit on the fence, again, because I really did not want to have to make that decision. It is an unfair decision to put in the players’ hands. You’re always, unfortunately, going to end up upsetting someone whatever side you choose. From my point of view, when the World Cup came back on the schedule [after a two-year absence] and it was coming to Royal Melbourne, I knew that I wanted to be part of this team.

"We [in Northern Ireland] have always represented Ireland when it has come to the World Cup . . . there was never any questions raised as to who we player for in this format, it was really just an Irish team. So I believe being here [in Melbourne] and representing Ireland will, with the Olympics regulations, mean that I will have to play for Ireland when it comes to the Olympics in 2016, so, if good enough, if eligible, if fit enough, et cetera, etcetera.

Feels relieved
"So, part of me feels relieved to not have to make that decision. It certainly did not enter into my reasons to be wanting to be (in Melboure) this week. I wanted to be here and play with Shane (Lowry) around Royal Melbourne in a golf tournament which I have always loved. And, like I say, it takes care of another very sensitive problem that I, myself, and Rory, in particular, have not enjoyed talking about much the last couple of years. It is a tough one. It is a very unique scenario unfortunately, and kind of a sensitive one."