"Rory is...on the brink of making a profoundly brave and inherently progressive political statement."

Conor Nagle posts a thoughtful analysis of Rory McIlroy's plight in light of history and comments made to the Daily Mail about which country the World No. 1 might represent if he qualifies for the 2016 Olympics.

In other words, in the wake of McIlroy's clarifying letter posted Monday, Nagle offers a pretty even-handed look at the minefield McIlroy must navigate.

He is part of the first generation to self-identify as Northern Irish (a trend touched upon in this recent feature) and, in demonstrating a willingness, however tentative, to chart a course independent of the ideologies that have determined life in the six counties for nigh-on a century, he’s emerged an improbable spokesperson for a nascent political, or “post-political”, identity.

Precariously balanced between two contrasting identities, McIlroy has repeatedly asserted his right to a third option: a Northern-ness that supersedes all else, of which being British is a logical consequence rather than a matter of faith.

Yes, he’s availed of opportunities afforded him as a teenager by the Golfing Union of Ireland, but the issue of national allegiance, when forced, will hardly be decided by so trivial a matter as junior funding.

Brian Keogh with extensive comments from Ireland's Des Smyth. The gist:

“I don’t see how we can lay claim to people from Northern Ireland,” said Smyth, a highly repected Irish player and one of Ian Woosnam’s Ryder Cup vice captains at the K Club in 2006. “They are part of the United Kingdom.

“Jimmy Heggarty was my travelling buddy on tour for many years. He was from Ulster, part of the United Kingdom and I never had a problem with that.

Rory appears to have been helped, at least temporarily, by Andy Murray's triumphant U.S. Open win. Still, the various UK papers reported on McIlory's letter in Tuesday's editions.

Kevin Garside in The Independent declared that McIlroy "should be celebrating the best form of his career" but "finds himself caught on the horns of an uncomfortable dilemma."

The Guardian's "staff and agencies" report suggested McIlroy's letter "hinted that he may choose to play for Great Britain" in Rio.

The Daily Mail says the Rory clarification letter was issued because McIlroy "suffered abuse from a significant number of his 1.25 million Twitter followers as well as criticism from established broadcasters on Irish TV."

In Ireland, Phillip Reid offers an interesting solution for McIlroy: take a pass on Rio 2016.

Give it a miss! Save yourself the trouble and strife of having to declare allegiance one way or another! Focus on the Majors; for, truly, they are the defining moments in any player’s career! Be yourself!

There. I’ve said it.

The pulling and dragging over McIlroy’s nationality or otherwise is most unseemly and something of an irrelevance given that virtually week-in and week-out he is playing very much as an individual.

If he were to bypass the Olympics, the kernel of this issue, it would certainly present an easier way out – and avoid the hassle – for the player, especially given the over-the-top response to the comment that he felt “more British than Irish”.