Padraig Harrington ready for Olympic challenge

Graeme McDowell has withdrawn from the Irish Olympic golf team, less than 24 hours after Rory McIlroy’s decision to do likewise.

That leaves Padraig Harrington as next in line for a spot on the team, something he is very excited about.

"It would be a huge honour for me to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games," the three-time Major winner said via an Olympic Council of Ireland statement on Thursday.

After McIlroy decided to pull out of the Games due to his concerns over the Zika virus - McDowell has opted out with the birth of his second child due to coincide with the conclusion of the competition.

In the statement he released on Thursday he never referenced the Zika virus - that has already caused Vijay Singh, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel to opt out.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus has been linked to causing birth defects and, in adults, has been linked to the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre.

“I woke yesterday morning to the news that Rory McIlroy had withdrawn from the Irish Olympic Golf team, putting me next in line for an automatic spot on the team,” McDowell said in his statement.

“As many within golf will know my wife Kirsten is pregnant and is due to have our second child just a couple of weeks after the Olympic Golf competition concludes. I made the decision many months ago, before I was on the Team, that I would not play or travel outside the US, where my family and I live, in the weeks running up to the birth.

“Unfortunately I will therefore not be available to replace Rory on the team. I have informed Paul McGinley and the Olympic Council of Ireland of my decision.

“I’ve always been a proud member of Ireland’s golf teams, from my amateur career through to playing in four World Cups of Golf for Ireland and I wish the Olympic Team the very best of luck in Rio.”

In immediate response to McDowell’s press release the OCI looked to “re-emphasise that Graeme’s decision was taken for personal reasons as Rio 2016 is a matter of weeks before the birth of his, and his wife Kristin Stape’s, second child.

“This now presents a significant opportunity for another talented Irish golfer to represent his country and participate in golf’s historic return to the Olympic Games after a 112-year absence.

“In particular, we are very fortunate to have a global star in Pádraig Harrington who is now in contention for automatic selection for Rio 2016.”

The Irish golf team will be announced in mid-July - Harrington himself commented:

“Based on the current ranking points I am next in line for automatic selection to the Irish Olympic Team for Rio 2016. I will work very hard over the next few weeks to achieve this selection as it would be a huge honour for me to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games, having played an active role in golf’s bid to be re-included in the Olympic Games programme.”

It now looks like being Shane Lowry and Harrington to represent Ireland in Rio.