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Rory McIlroy defiantly unrepentant about skipping the Olympics

TROON, Scotland — He has come to raise the Claret Jug for the second time in three years.

But first, Rory McIlroy has raised eyebrows.

Call it his deep-rooted honesty or suggest it’s a reaction to veiled criticism by International Golf Federation officials that was directed toward McIlroy and others who pulled out of Olympic consideration, but the four-time major winner had some stinging remarks during a press conference in advance of the 145th British Open at Royal Troon.

Asked if he’d watch the Olympics, McIlroy said, “probably the events like track and field, swimming, diving — the stuff that matters.