Initially, talking about his Olympic participation has been a tough subject for Rory McIlroy. And why would not it be? He is a native of Northern Ireland, but since his country does not have an individual delegation in the Olympics, the four-time major winner has to choose between Great Britain or Ireland. Being a stranger to both countries, McIlroy felt it would be odd to represent them because he wasn’t aware of their culture, let alone the national anthems.

It was one of the reasons that forced McIlroy to miss the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, the other being the Zika virus. At that time, the 35-year-old golfer conveyed that the Olympics had him questioning his identity, so much so that he expressed, “I started to resent it [Olympics].” He further added, “The participation in the Olympics for me—it’s just a little more complicated I feel for me than some other people from where I’m from and the whole politics of the thing,” NBC reported.

However, four years after golf’s return to the Olympics, the Northern Irishman’s stance on his participation changed entirely. In the 2020 (2021) Tokyo Olympics, McIlroy represented Ireland, as he had done so two times in the World Cup of Golf (2009 and 2011). There, the 4-time major winner finished 4th and was just short of getting his maiden Olympic medal.

From refraining from committing to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and diverting the subject because of politics, what changed McIlroy’s stance so much that he now looks forward to the Olympics?

How did Rory McIlroy’s stance change on the Olympics?

The political issue still stands for the Northern Irish golfer. However, the 35-year-old has started looking beyond. Rory McIlroy’s closeted thinking about the Olympics started to change right after the 2016 Rio Games concluded. Initially, the 26-time PGA Tour winner did not expect the people’s reception of golf at the Olympics as much as it did. Many fans turned up, making it an enthralling event.

McIlroy believed that golf wouldn’t turn many eyeballs, but it did, and he was proven wrong. That got the ball rolling for the PGA Tour pro and his thoughts on the Olympics. Then, once he participated in the Tokyo Olympics, everything he perceived the Olympics to be was drastically different. McIlroy said, “I certainly didn’t expect to feel the way I did when I was there, but it was great. It was a great experience. I had a wonderful time.” 

Thus, moving forward, he looked at the Olympics as another avenue to play his best golf and have “more freedom, less thought, more fun” to contend for his first medal. He had committed to the 2024 Paris Olympics (if selected, now which he has) right after the Tokyo Olympics finished. And so at the Summer Olympics this year, the 35-year-old would be joined by his best buddy, and 2024 Zurich Classic-winning teammate, Shane Lowry. The two will be proudly representing Ireland.

Last time, McIlroy lost a chance for his first bronze medal as he lost a five-man playoff. This time, with a newer perspective and a few years older, the four-time major winner may look forward to adding a new laurel to his already illuminating career.