Don't blame golfers for pulling out of Rio Olympics

(Photo: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports)ROYAL TROON, Scotland — One concern after another started piling up a few months back, each providing a nail in the coffin that is men’s golf in the Rio Summer Olympics.

Zika virus. Political unrest in Brazil. Security concerns in Rio.

There’s also a crammed schedule that includes two major championships, a World Golf Championship event, the RBC Canadian Open and the Olympics in nine weeks. And one week after the Rio tournament, the FedExCup begins and players start chasing the $10 million grand prize.

The format is 72 holes of individual play instead of team play. There’s the travel and lost family time. Even the stipend given to caddies insulted some…