Golfers skip because no money involved: Rio head

“They tried to blame Zika, but the media have shown that they are not coming because there’s no prize money,” Rio organizing committee President Carlos Nuzman said yesterday, speaking with the games set to open in just under three weeks.

Jordan Spieth withdrew this week from the Olympics, citing Zika. He joined Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy in also saying Zika was the main reason for skipping the first Olympic golf tournament in 112 years.

Their absence could be a setback for golf’s future in the Olympics. IOC President Thomas Bach has said that golf’s future may rest on its ability to get top players to show up. Golf is guaranteed a spot in the Tokyo Olympics in four years, but could be vulnerable after that.

“Zika is much worse in Florida than in Brazil, and golfers are playing in Florida,” Nuzman said. Male golfers have also cited security worries, and some have complained that Olympic golf has been wedged into an already crowded tour schedule.

Rio has myriad Olympic problems: Zika, security concerns, severe water pollution and sluggish ticket sales.Organizers say about 70 percent of tickets have been sold. “I don’t think we need too much public,” he said, adding that smaller venues could save money. Television does an extraordinary job, with cameras everywhere,” he added. “Nobody can walk a step without a camera filming it.”