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Jordan Spieth undecided over Olympics participation

Jordan Spieth watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club
Image: Jordan Spieth yet to commit to this summer's showpiece in Brazil

Two-time major winner Jordan Spieth admits he is uncertain about his participation in this summer's Olympics.

World No 1 Jason Day and Rory McIlroy, ranked fourth, are the two highest-profile players to pull out citing fears over the Zika virus, leaving Spieth as the highest-ranked player set to play in Rio.

Spieth, who sits second on the world list, accepts his position as the poster boy of American golf puts added pressure on him but insists he will weigh up all the issues before making a decision.

"Right now, I'm uncertain," said the 22-year-old ahead of this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. "Do I feel an added burden? Potentially. I think all four of the Americans do.

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Rory McIlroy has denied golf has been 'embarrassed' by the number of players withdrawing from next month's Olympics.

"I feel like one of four with maybe a slightly higher burden now that the guys have dropped out. I've always been excited about the possibility but there's quite a few different factors that would turn somebody away from going.

"I have not received enough information to make an informed decision either way or not so as we gather more information I will be able to make a decision one way or the other. When I feel confident, I will make a decision either side."

Among the other golfers not going to Rio because of Zika fears are Ireland's Shane Lowry, Australian Marc Leishman, South African trio Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, and Fiji's Vijay Singh.

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Rory McIlroy & Jason Day
Image: Rory McIlroy and Jason Day have decided to give Rio a miss this summer

World No 8 Adam Scott and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell have declined to go for other reasons.

"I've heard some stories on both sides about the security threats that Brazil and Rio have," Spieth added.

"Transportation is a big security issue down there, how to get from one place to another with the different kind of violence that we don't see here. I'm going to get answers soon on how we plan to be secured down there.

"This is personal safety type and future planning-type decision which is going to outweigh any pressure that we feel [to compete]. Let's not put me on save the Olympics. The Olympics are going to be fine."

Scott is bidding to emulate the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and win three straight events on the PGA Tour
Image: Adam Scott has his own reasons for sidestepping Rio Games this summer

While Spieth is still considering his options, compatriot and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is fully committed.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been linked to severe birth defects, is not a concern for the big-hitting left-hander and his wife as they cannot have children and have an adopted son and daughter,.

However, his regular caddie Ted Scott will not be travelling to Brazil because of his own worries.

Bubba Watson put pressure on Scott with a birdie at 17 as he closed with a 68
Image: No security concerns for two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson

"If I was the other way and I was planning on having more kids, I would not go," Watson said. "But I'm not. I'm in a situation where that's not happening, so my decision was a lot easier.

"Teddy is not going. He's worried about certain things and he's in a situation where he can still have kids.

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"When it comes to security, I mean, I've seen the worst. I've grown up in what some people wouldn't say was a country club lifestyle so I'm not worried about that.

"I am 100 per cent in. There's ways I can get out: not making the team, the US Government or the Olympic association telling me I can't go. That would be the only way I'm not going - or a bad car wreck."

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