Rory McIlroy Raises Questions With Choice To Play For Ireland At Olympics Despite Northern Irish Nationality

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When Rory McIlroy steps on the first tee Thursday for the opening round of the 2024 Summer Olympic golf tournament, he’ll do so while representing the country of Ireland.

But McIlroy is not Irish. He is Northern Irish. And he plays under the Northern Ireland flag for every other tournament in the season.

So, what gives?

Rory McIlroy Chose To Represent Ireland Over Team GB For The Olympics

Because Northern Ireland is under direct rule from the English crown, it technically cannot compete separately because it is not an independent country.

(Although both Puerto Rico, which is governed by the U.S., and Palestine are both permitted in the games).

And while Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, it is not technically part of Great Britain. Meaning that Northern Irish athletes are not obligated to compete for Team GB (which shouldn’t exist, but that’s a separate discussion).

Instead, athletes from Northern Ireland are able to choose between either Team GB or the Republic of Ireland.

McIlroy did not compete in the inaugural Olympic golf event in 2016 in Rio. He initially planned to represent Team GB in Tokyo in 2021 before opting to represent Ireland, whom he represented in his youth career, intead.

“As I said, previously,” he told the Mirror, “once I left trying not to upset anyone aside, then it was actually a pretty easy decision. The decision was I’m going to play golf for the country or the nation that I’ve always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game. And that’s Ireland.”

Ultimately, McIlroy said the choice was as simple as staying consistent.

“Even though the Olympics has given me this choice,” he stated , “there really wasn’t a choice because all I’ve done throughout my life is play golf for Ireland so why would that change just because the tournament has changed. That was my decision.”