Brendon de Jonge is the latest in a string of golfers who have chosen not to play in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro later this year.
The Zimbabwean currently ranks 160th in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings and would miss both the Travelers Championship and the John Deere Classic were he to compete for gold.
‘The reason for my decision is not my concern about the Zika virus,’ he said in a statement. ‘It is truly a business decision. It would have been a great honor to play for my country. I am truly disappointed, but my current position on the FedEx Cup points list does not allow me the luxury to skip the John Deere Classic or the Travelers Championship. … This has to be a priority for me and my family.’
Two of the final three events of the regular PGA Tour season coincide with the Olympics, making it a scheduling nightmare for players trying to keep their cards.
De Jonge’s withdrawal means that Zimbabwe is currently without a representative ranked in the Olympic top 60. Dean Burmester currently plays under a South African flag, but could represent Zimbabwe for the Games.
