Rory McIlroy says he will not be competing in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics because of concerns over the Zika virus.
In a statement released by his management company on Wednesday, the four-time major winner said, "I've come to realize that my healtháand my family's health comes before anything else."
Even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take."
McIlroy becomes the highest-ranked (world No. 4) player to pull out of the Olympics. Other players who have withdrawn their names for consideration are Adam Scott (Australia), Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa), Charl Schwartzel (South Africa), Marc Leishman (Australia), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Vijay Singh (Fiji) and Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand).