McIlroy Bitten By The Olympic Bug: “I Made Some Comments Before That Were Probably Uneducated”

The four-time Major winner loved his Olympic experience and is already thinking about Paris in 2024

McIlroy Bitten By The Olympic Bug
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The four-time Major winner loved his Olympic experience and is already thinking about Paris in 2024

Rory McIlroy didn't come home with a medal but appeared to have one of the best weeks of his career in Tokyo at the Olympic Games.

Despite saying that he wasn't patriotic before the Games and sounding unenthusiastic, he revealed after that the Olympic spirit has "definitely bitten me."

“I never tried so hard in my life to finish third," he said after narrowly missing out on bronze, revealing that he "made some comments before that were probably uneducated and impulsive."

"But coming here experiencing it, seeing, feeling everything that goes on, not just Olympic golf but just the Olympics in general, that sort of Olympic spirit's definitely bitten me and I'm excited how this week's turned out and excited for the future.

"It's not a position I've found myself in very often [trying his all for third position] but I gave it my all out there and it wasn't quite meant to be, but I'm looking forward to having a crack at it again.

"It's not just another golf tournament. It's something much bigger than that.

"I didn't realise that until I got here. I feel like golf has its Olympic Games four times a year, but this has a different feeling, it really does.

"I've really enjoyed teaming up with Shane for Ireland. It's like a throwback to our amateur days.

"I'm really happy with how the week has gone. It would have been great to get a medal, but I'm already excited for what's ahead and my next Olympic experience.

"Before this week, it might have been something that wasn't fully on my radar, but leaving Tokyo, it's something that I really want to do."

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews.