TROON, Scotland -- Citing health concerns -- but not specifically the Zika virus -- Jordan Spieth on Tuesday said it was probably the hardest decision Ive had to make in my life when he decided to withdraw from the Olympic golf tournament.For months, Spieth, 22, had professed his desire to represent the United States and participate in golfs return to the Games after 104 years. He had even been featured in advertisements for the Aug. 11-14 event in Brazil.But like many of his peers, Spieth on Monday said he wont be making the trip and also said he would not defend his title at the John Deere Classic -- a PGA Tour event that is being played the same week.This was harder than trying to decide what university to go to, Spieth said Tuesday during a news conference at Royal Troon, where the 145th Open begins Thursday. Whether to turn professional and leave school. This was something I very much struggled with. I bounced back and forth with, and ultimately a decision had to be made yesterday, and so I made it.Why was it so hard?Because Im a huge believer in Olympic golf, he said. Im a huge believer in playing for your country, showing I absolutely look forward to Summer and Winter Olympics. Its the most exciting sporting event for me to watch on TV, and to have a chance to be a part of it is something I definitely look forward to trying to do.Spieth said that although he doesnt expect anyone to understand his decision, he believes its the right one.Unfortunately, this is going to be a very, very difficult thing for me to do to watch the opening ceremonies and watch my peers compete for a gold medal or any medal for that [matter], and watch people stand on the stage and hear the national anthem playing.Spieth said hes looked forward to Olympic golf since 2009, when its return to the Olympics was announced. He said hell make it a significant goal to be at Tokyo in 2020.?Spieth would not specifically cite Zika as the reason for his withdrawal. He said reportssuggesting that he is doing so for just that reason are false. Rio has been plagued with health and security issues, and those factors undoubtedly weighed in his decision, although he would not discuss them specifically.Ranked third in the world and basically the face of American golf after winning two major championships and the PGA Tours FedEx Cup title in 2015, Spieth was viewed as an excellent ambassador for golfs re-entry into the Olympics.But he joined the other top-four players in the world -- Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy -- in electing to stay home.During a 30-minute news conference, Spieth fielded 22 questions, 13 of which were about the Olympics -- even though The Open is set to begin in two days.I can understand why people are skeptical, he said. Theyre as passionate about the Olympics, as I am. They also are not in my shoes. So I feel that many, if not all of you, would have made the same decision I made if you were in my shoes. Whether you believe it or not, so be it. This is just something that was very, very challenging for me. I very much struggled with it. I certainly didnt want to have to do this during major week. Obviously, would have rather had the focus be on the Open Championship, but it hasnt been the beginning of this week. Hopefully it will after I leave this room.Peter Dawson, the former head of the R&A and the current president of the International Golf Federation, on Monday said he thought the Zika threat had been overblown,?as?few athletes from other sports have withdrawn because of it.It very well could be, Spieth said. Im not sure.A year ago, Spieth won the John Deere Classic, then flew to St. Andrews attempting to make history by winning the first three majors in the same year. He came up one shot short of a playoff won by Zach Johnson.This year, the Deere tournament was moved to the same week as the Olympics, but Spieth said he wont be defending his title.I dont think thats appropriate, he said. I dont think it would be an appropriate move to play that week. So I will not be playing that week. I dont think it would be appropriate given our decision on the Olympics.But I do look forward to going back there. I love the tournament. I love the people. I obviously played it well. Wholesale MLB Red Sox Jerseys . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Xander Bogaerts Jersey . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. http://www.redsoxjerseyscheap.com/ . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Ted Williams Jersey . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Blake Swihart Jersey . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. This post contains spoilers.Will Baker (B.J. Britt) has returned! Ginny Bakers (Kylie Bunbury) mysterious older brother had disappeared since the second episode, and I wont lie, I kind of thought he was dead.Sometimes this show does things that dont make sense, like dangle Ginnys brother in front of us and not follow up on the storyline. Fans have long memories (ask me how I feel about Aria not being at Callie and Arizonas wedding in the seventh season of Greys Anatomy), so it seemed odd, if not inexplicable, to know that Will existed, but was absent from the MLB All-Star Game and his sisters on-field brawl.However, the writers were kind enough to explain why Ginnys brother went MIA for the majority of the season. Will is apparently wrapped up in some shady business, and Amelia Slater (Ginnys agent, played by Ali Larter) is doing her best to manage everything away, as usual.In fact, Will did show up to his sisters second start with one hell of a shiner -- thanks to being behind on a loan payment -- and Amelia handed him a check, and told him to get going so he wouldnt be a distraction.Im sure most people are fed up with Amelias micromanaging of Ginnys life, and her interactions with Will come off as a little patronizing, which isnt helped by the fact that they are racialized. The optics of a wealthy white woman publicly shaming a black man over finances are not great for her, no matter how good her intentions might be. The admonishment she received from Evelyn Sanders (Meagan Holder), the wife of Ginnys teammate Blip, was more than just the acknowledgement that putting Wills business in the street is awkward as hell; there was a watch it tone, which probably had a double meaning. This show has proven itself to be all about identity politics, so theres no way the writers missed any part of that dynamic.Will has some sort of business plan for which he wants Ginnys backing, and Amelia is totally suspicious. And honestly, I dont really blame her. Hes Ginnys brother, and I want to believe he has her best interests in mind and is not just trying to make a buck for himself. But he is acting shady.Additionally, who knew a rain delay could provide such a dramatic background? Is this what happens in the majors? I have questions.In other news, theres trouble in paradise. This episode featured some heavy squabbling between Ginny and catcher Mike Lawson (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), which is sure to give the #Bawson fandom heart palpiitations.dddddddddddd. The two of them couldnt be chummy forever, but I would love to see some more sophisticated drama than Mike lashing out at Ginny over the Padres benching him for a game and shopping him around for a trade.However, Mikes barrage of bitterness was quickly tempered when fellow player Omar Robles (Jason Canela) confides in Mike and Blip that he thinks he has feelings for Ginny. Mike dismisses the thought with a spirited explanation of how Robles doesnt know Ginny at all, and if he did ? hed know that she hums Katy Perry songs horribly off-key, and that she loves grape soda and hates cilantro. He declares to Robles, You dont have feelings for her.But everyone, including Robles and Blip, knows that hes talking to himself.After acknowledging to himself that he has feelings for Ginny, Mike tells general manager Oscar Arguella (Mark Consuelos) that he wants to be traded to Chicago. Couple that with the promo for the next episode, which shows Ginny and Mike getting awfully close, and the #Bawson followers were sent into a frenzy.The idea of Ginny and Mike being a thing is kind of cute, but Im pissed off about it. Theres the obvious fact that Ginny is 13 years Mikes junior and the cliché of a team-based romance budding, just because a woman has joined the majors. Plus, theres the anger I feel as a queer person who played sports growing up in a heterosexist environment where crushes on teammates were not cute.Theres also something tone-deaf about the way Ginnys teammates flirt with her and the way Mike has developed feelings. I cant help but feel that if Ginny Baker was Jeff Baker and the first openly gay pitcher in MLB, the working environment wouldnt be nearly as cute.No one would want him to see them naked; no one would be flirting with him. But, because everyone is straight, a teammate romance is forbidden love. Its playful and sexy. Never mind the fact that in real life, the fear of intra-team romances has created homophobic environments on many a ball club.Ive been hoping the writers wouldnt take this storyline there because it does everyone a disservice, but it looks like they are. It bums me out. I hoped they were better than this, which reminds me: Where is that waitress when I need her? Whats her name? Cara?Bring back Cara! At least shes not Ginnys freaking teammate. Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys 2018 NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys ' ' '