FILE – In this Oct. 11, 2015, file photo, United States’ Jordan Spieth, center, is embraced by his girlfriend Annie Verret following his loss to International team player Marc Leishman of Australia in their singles match as Dustin Johnson, left, watches at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, in Incheon, South Korea. Spieth is out of the Olympics. International Golf Federation president Peter Dawson announced the decision at the British Open. Spieth had been strongly debating whether to go over the last three days before reaching his decision on Monday, July 11, 2016. He will be replaced by Matt Kuchar. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
TROON, Scotland (AP) — The British Open has been overshadowed by the news of another big-name withdrawal from the Olympics.
Two-time major champion Jordan Spieth dropped out on Monday, just before the deadline to set the 60-man field. Like others before him, he had cited concerns over the Zika virus.
Spieth is expected to go into more detail during a media availability Tuesday.
His decision means the top four in the world rankings are skipping the Rio de Janeiro Games. Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy had already announced they won’t take part in golf’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904.
Masters champion Danny Willett will be going for the gold. He says the mosquito-borne virus appears to be less of a threat during the South American winter.
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