Rory McIlroy defended on Wednesday the growing number of top-ranked golfers pulling out of the Rio Olympics and denied it represents a stinging embarrassment to the sport. Golf is returning to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 in August but will not feature world number one Jason Day, fourth-ranked McIlroy or US Open runner-up Shane Lowry because of fears over the Zika virus, to name just a few big names. "As a tool to grow the game around the world, I think it's great," McIlroy, a four-time major winner, told reporters ahead of the 100th French Open, of golf's inclusion at the Olympics.
