World No.1 Golfer Jason Day Has Abandoned the Rio Olympics Over Zika Fears

A gender divide is opening up as the world's top golfers decide to withdraw—or stay and compete—at the upcoming Rio Olympics due to concerns with the Zika virus.

Yesterday Australia's Jason Day—the world's top ranked male golfer—decided not to attend the first ever Olympic golf tournament because of Zika; a mosquito-borne virus that can cause birth defects.

In a statement published on his Twitter account, Day – who hails from Beaudesert, Queensland - made the announcement, citing concerns with the risks Zika presented to his wife's future pregnancies.

"I have always placed my family in front of everything else in my life," Day, who has two children, wrote.

"Medical experts have confirmed that while perhaps slight, a decision to compete in Rio absolutely comes with health risks to me and my family."

While Day and a number of high profile male golfers are pulling out of Rio—including Rory McIllroy, Vijay Singh and Shane Lowry—due to Zika, not a single female golfer has pulled pin.

Kiwi Lydia Ko, the world's number one ranked female, is excited about competing in Rio, trusting that athletes will be protected from Zika.

"I'm more excited about the Olympics, about the ceremony, about just being in that Olympic vibe than worrying about the Zika virus," the Kiwi teenager told Reuters.

"It's more important that we enjoy Rio and we're excited about it. And all the girls I've talked to, that's kind of the response. We're all excited to go to Brazil, represent our countries and be there amongst the other Olympians.

"It's unfortunate with what's happening with Zika. We all trust the people that are taking care of it … it's in their hands now."

Rio 2016 chief executive Sidney Levy called Zika fears "overblown" earlier this week, despite a number of athletes, from across almost every sport, already withdrawing from the Games.

The Rio male and female tournaments will mark the first time since the 1904 St Louis Olympics since golf has been played at the Summer Games. It was played at the 1900 Olympics in Paris.

In both 1900 and 1904, only males were allowed to compete.

With Day withdrawing from the Olympics, the Australian men's team looks a lot weaker than it did six months ago. Neither Adam Scott or Marc Leishmann, Australia's next two highest ranked male golfers, are travelling to Rio, either.