Will play for Ireland

McIlroy announces his decision to play for the Ireland team in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Maybe it was the way I was brought up, I don’t know, but I have always felt more of a connection with the UK than with Ireland. And so I have to weigh that up against the fact that I’ve always played for Ireland and so it is tough. Whatever I do, I know my decision is going to upset some people but I just hope the vast majority will understand.

This move potentially allows McIlroy to re-team with countryman Graeme McDowell, with whom he played the first two rounds in the 2014 U.S. Open.