Eligibility Rules, Okay

[DannyInvincible]

I'm of the opinion that if an olympic medal isn't the highest award a participant in a sport can try and win, then that sport shouldn't be an olympic sport.

In the sense it devalues the Olympics?

Some might think you're taking the píss out of the merits of golf as an olympic sport, dragging up a comparison with the Long Jump for Horses event ...... or vice versa perhaps?

Oi, I see what you did there!

Why do you think it strange though? I have no opinion on its supposed "strangeness" either way; to clarify my position, it's as "normal" or "strange" as any other Olympic sport, surely. Is your thinking along the same lines as osarusan and do you see Olympic football as similarly strange then?

On McIlroy, I wonder what McIllroy's NI faithful make of his wavering? Will he too be accused of being a bigot if he declares for Ireland?...

McDowell reckons a denial of choice is the solution: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/22291923

As an aside but still on track, I wonder what the eligibility rules were for those horses and did the winning horse take home the medal?

I heard they were fairly lax; being born in a stable does not make one a horse.

[DannyInvincible]

On McIlroy, I wonder what McIllroy's...

Jaysis, how did I manage that?

[gastric]

Jaysis, how did I manage that?

Lack of editing, something I am forever gulity of!

[Gather round]

On McIlroy, I wonder what McIllroy's NI faithful make of his wavering? Will he too be accused of being a bigot if he declares for Ireland?...

McDowell reckons a denial of choice is the solution: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/22291923.

Not that bothered. Play for whoever will select you, lads. Realistically one or both of them might not have a choice of suitors, but if they both do I think they'll accept the British team offer.

Denial of choice is a bit silly.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Except most of their fanbase in the North are paranoid. So what's new?

And it will be none or all who have the choice;though ultimately any selection criteria is down to the IOC and that sport's governing body.

But golf shouldn't be in the Olympics anyway;just another tournament. Like the tennis.

[Not Brazil]

On McIlroy, I wonder what McIllroy's NI faithful make of his wavering? Will he too be accused of being a bigot if he declares for Ireland?...

McIlroy enjoys cross community support amongst the golfing fraternity in Northern Ireland - I play golf at a "mixed" Club, and in a "mixed" fourball most Saturdays - we'll all be supporting McIlroy whoever he decides to play for -if he plays at all.

I suspect most of the venim directed at him when (if) he makes his choice of whom to represent will come from those who don't care much for golf - it'll come from those for whom "themuns" and "usuns" is about the limit of their understanding of "identity" in this part of the world.

[gastric]

McIlroy enjoys cross community support amongst the golfing fraternity in Northern Ireland - I play golf at a "mixed" Club, and in a "mixed" fourball most Saturdays - we'll all be supporting McIlroy whoever he decides to play for -if he plays at all.

I suspect most of the venim directed at him when (if) he makes his choice of whom to represent will come from those who don't care much for golf - it'll come from those for whom "themuns" and "usuns" is about the limit of their understanding of "identity" in this part of the world.

While I appreciate why you have used the term 'mixed', it just brings home to me how removed many aspects of life in NI are from most other societies. It both saddens me and angers me.

[Not Brazil]

While I appreciate why you have used the term 'mixed', it just brings home to me how removed many aspects of life in NI are from most other societies. It both saddens me and angers me.

It saddens me too gastric, but that's how it is.

For example, our kids are seperated along religious lines, in many cases, from their first day at school.

However, it's not all doom and gloom.

[ArdeeBhoy]

The religious divide is all down to old principle of 'divide-and-rule' as practiced by a certain dubious empire, amongst others.

[gastric]

This article, I feel, encapsulates the opinions of many on McIllroy and golf in the Olympics. It is interesting for me, as I do not experience all the hype and debate surrounding McIllroy.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/co...-29246542.html

[Charlie Darwin]

I was disturbed to find myself broadly agreeing with Ian O'Doherty but luckily he padded the article with enough inane nonsense to allow me to continue to sleep peacefully.

McIlroy clearly identifies more with Britain than Ireland, as is his wont. I don't really understand why since being Irish is ****ing deadly, but we all have our minor eccentricities. But most of all he identifies with himself and his flip-flopping over the nationality issue is primarily an attempt to balance the commercial tightrope that is his life as a professional sportsman. It's hard to imagine McIlroy playing in the Olympics at all if there weren't millions of sponsorship dollars to be made from it.

[Irwin3]

These are the ages at which the following players started representing Ireland: Wilson (16), McCarthy (16), Gibson (15), Duffy (18). Very lazy journalism. McCarthy never switched from anyone, Gibson only played for the schoolboy team and they're all very young in the first place.

[BonnieShels]

I was disturbed to find myself broadly agreeing with Ian O'Doherty but luckily he padded the article with enough inane nonsense to allow me to continue to sleep peacefully.

McIlroy clearly identifies more with Britain than Ireland, as is his wont. I don't really understand why since being Irish is ****ing deadly, but we all have our minor eccentricities. But most of all he identifies with himself and his flip-flopping over the nationality issue is primarily an attempt to balance the commercial tightrope that is his life as a professional sportsman. It's hard to imagine McIlroy playing in the Olympics at all if there weren't millions of sponsorship dollars to be made from it.

Me too. Phew. He's bsng on the money for the Olympics part. I ignored everything after that.

[Stuttgart88]

I play golf at a "mixed" Club, and in a "mixed" fourball most Saturdays

Is that one where it doesn't matter what faith or political hue you are, just as long as you're a misogynist?

[Not Brazil]

Is that one where it doesn't matter what faith or political hue you are, just as long as you're a misogynist?

We really value our female members - we even give them time on the course, on their own, (5AM to 6AM everyday, the 1st tee is reserved for Ladies only)...helps us lads not being held up.

[Fixer82]

This article, I feel, encapsulates the opinions of many on McIllroy and golf in the Olympics. It is interesting for me, as I do not experience all the hype and debate surrounding McIllroy.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/co...-29246542.html

Brutal article.
While I understand how cringeworthy it can be to claim Obama and Muhammad Ali, comparing it to Gibson, McCarthy etc is ridiculous

[gastric]

Will be interesting to see what McIllroy does.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/ro...-1226642627657

[Irwin3]

The plot thickens...

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-fi...d-south-a.html

[BonnieShels]

Will be interesting to see what McIllroy does.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/ro...-1226642627657

Harrington is the highest-ranked player from Ireland.

Eh? Rory McIlroy is.

In saying that Aussie's aren't known for their geographic prowess.

[gastric]

Eh? Rory McIlroy is.

In saying that Aussie's aren't known for their geographic prowess.

Bonnie, While the Herald Sun is a bit of a rag, the point they are making is that Harrington would be the No1 player for Ireland, if McIllroy and McDowell represented Northern Ireland in the World Cup event.