Today In Zika: Rory In, Day Signaling Doubts, Rio Pushes Back

The New York Times' Juliet Macur notes the pushback from Olympic organizers who are reminding athletes that the mosquito-carried Zika virus poses little threat because the games are being played in Rio's winter, saying the rate of infection “drops to very low numbers, very near zero.”

She says while cyclist Tejay van Garderen has withdrawn from consideration for the United States team along with several golfers previously announced, some of the decision-making may be based on priorities.

The choice for van Garderen — and for the golfers Marc Leishman of Australia, Vijay Singh of Fiji and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, who have all said they will not go because of the Zika threat — was probably easier than it would be for, say, a rower or a fencer, or a female soccer star dependent on a victory bonus for a big part of her income. For athletes in those sports and others, the Olympics are both the pinnacle of competition and a meal ticket; the opportunities and exposure lost by staying home cannot be made up.

While Rory McIlroy suggested any doubts he had were gone, Jason Day is now on the fence. Brian Wacker reports from Muirfield Village:

“It’s difficult to say right now,” the world No. 1 said from Muirfield Village, site of this week’s Memorial. “We’re just really trying to monitor what’s going on and make an educated decision because obviously we’re not done having kids.” Day and wife Ellie already have two kids, Dash, 3, and Lucy, 7 months.

Well it wasn't obvious to us but thank you for clarifying.

Doug Ferguson has a full report on the latest Zika talk, with more on why Charl Schwartzel is passing (and it's all Zika).

The South African says he expects more golfers to think hard about going, and he would not be surprised if more pulled out.

"You can hear the guys mumbling about it. It's definitely stuck in their heads," Schwartzel said. "I would go so far as to say anyone going is not comfortable going. I think it's a worry for them. It's a choice. If it was anywhere else, I'd play. I'd love to play in the Olympics."

Don Kaplan of the New York Daily News says a Rio trip is now optional for NBC staffers, some of whom are going to sit out this Olympics.