World number two Dustin Johnson has become the latest golfer to withdraw from next month’s Rio Olympics due to fears over the Zika virus, the American announced on Friday.
The 32-year-old US Open champion joins world number one Jason Day, fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy and world number eight Adam Scott as top 10 golfers who have opted out of Rio.
“This was not an easy decision for me, but my concerns about the Zika Virus cannot be ignored,” Johnson said in a statement. “Paulina and I plan to have more children in the near future, and I feel it would be irresponsible to put myself, her or our family at risk.”
Johnson’s exit is yet another blow to Olympic golf which has returned to the Games for the first time since 1904. Among other high profile withdrawals is 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, Ireland’s Shane Lowery and former Masters champion Vijay Singh.
Johnson is the first American to remove his name from consideration, although third-ranked Jordan Spieth has said he is uncertain about going. Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that the World Health Organisation says is spreading rapidly in the Americas.
Qualifying for the 60-man field ends on July 11.