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AKRON, Ohio -- For the longest time, golfs biggest headache in preparing for a return to the Olympics was getting a new course built in Rio de Janeiro.That seems like a nuisance compared with its next major hurdle.Whos going to play?Ten eligible players over the last two months have pulled out of the Olympics, six of the specifically citing concerns about the Zika virus. The last week alone was particularly devastating to a sport wanting to make a good impression after being gone from the games for 112 years.Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion with the broadest global appeal among young stars, was the most prominent player to withdraw. That was until Tuesday when Jason Day, the No. 1 player in the world, said he would not be going. Shane Lowry and Branden Grace are planning to start families and will stay home because of Zika.Thats four players from the top 25 who wont be in Rio, and dread that more might follow.One of them might be Jordan Spieth, who described his Olympic position Tuesday as uncertain.Ive always been excited about the possible opportunity, but theres quite a few different factors that would turn somebody away from going. Its not just one, theres quite a few factors, Spieth said, mentioning Zika, security and reports of violence.The International Golf Federation stopped responding to each withdrawal because it was repeating the same statement: It is disappointed, but understands that each player has to decide on his own.Unfortunately with whats going on with Brazil and Rio with the Zika virus, theres a small chance it could happen, and I just cant put my family through that, especially with the future children were looking at having, Day said.While the sport is assured a spot in 2020 in Tokyo, the International Olympic Committee will vote next year to decide if golf stays longer than that. And it doesnt help when theres an All-Star roster of players who wont be there for whatever reasons.Because countries are limited to two players (a maximum of four if they are among the top 15), only 18 players from the top 50 will be in Rio -- as of Tuesday.IGF executive director Antony Scanlon, who has been involved in nine Olympics, believes golf still can put on a good show.We gave a commitment to have the best players there, Scanlon said. The decision theyre making are personal. We cant make those decisions for them. All you can do is understand the decision theyre making. After the games, well have two worthy champions, gold medalists that history will look back on. When the IOC members come to the venue, theyre going to have a great time. Theyll experience a sport where you can get close to the players and see their passion and determination.All we can do is make sure we deliver a great event.It wasnt supposed to turn out this way.When golf made its pitch to get back into the Olympics for the first time since St. Louis in 1904, the IGF presented video support from Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and other top players who offered enthusiasm and unconditional support for Olympic competition.That was in 2009, before Brazil was devastated by political corruption and an economic meltdown, before concerns over polluted water and whether Rio could provide adequate security. And that was before Zika.Brazil has been the hardest hit by the outbreak of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus linked to severe birth defects and possible neurological problems in adults. Schwartzel and Lowry said if the Olympics were anywhere else, they would be there.The Olympic committee has to look at this and go, `Look, it was a weird situation, so dont penalize golf because of a weird situation, Bubba Watson said.But is it as simple as blaming it on Rio?No women eligible for the Olympics have dropped out, and they would seem to be at greater risk from Zika. Then again, the women do not have the chance to play on a big stage like the Olympics. All three of their U.S. majors are held the week before the mens majors and often get lost in coverage.The perception is that Zika is an easy way out from going to South America for an Olympic competition that has little history behind it in golf. And the leading organizations did themselves no favors by cramming their biggest events into the summer ahead of the games. The final two majors, the British Open and PGA Championship, will be held in the month before the competition in Rio.After the Olympics, PGA Tour players go right into the lucrative FedEx Cup, and then for Americans and Europeans, its off to the Ryder Cup and its flag-waving fervor.Other athletes have been training four and eight years to go to the Olympics. I can see why theyre going because its the pinnacle of their sport, Lowry said. Its not the pinnacle of golf yet. It could be in 20 years time. But its not like winning the U.S. Open or winning the Masters or playing in the Ryder Cup. Fake Air Max Tn Plus . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Cheapest Yeezy 350 . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. 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NASSAU, Bahamas -- His situation was so dire a year ago that Tiger Woods admitted on Tuesday that he feared never playing competitive golf again.Woods spoke at a news conference at Albany Golf Club in advance of the Hero World Challenge, where the 14-time major champion is set to return after a 15-month absence because of two back surgeries and a lengthy rehabilitation and recovery process.Not being able to get out of bed, not being able to move, how can I expect to come out here and swing a golf club at 120 miles an hour and be ballistic when I cant even get out of bed? Woods said. So, yeah, there was a lot of trepidation and times where I thought ... was it realistic?When I had my knee redone and it was completely blown, I knew it was nine months, but I knew I could come back from it. Its not nerve damage. When youre dealing with a spine, when youre dealing with nerves, its a totally different deal.Woods was six weeks removed from the second of two back procedures in the fall of 2015. He was not allowed to swing a golf club and had yet to begin a serious rehabilitation program. His exercise was limited to walking, and Woods admitted that he could not see the light at the end of the tunnel.A year later, after an aborted return in early October at the Safeway Open, Woods, 40, says he is ready to compete in the annual tournament that benefits his foundation. And he has a much better outlook.Yeah, I can play, he said. I can play, I can compete and hopefully I can get out there and shoot something.Woods could not resist his usual mantra that he is here to win, but he acknowledged thats going to be a tall order. I havent played in a while. But hey, Im going to give it my best. Im going to be focused, Im going to do what I can do and put the ball in the correct spots, give myself looks and try to bury these putts and post scores, and get myself in the mix come Sunday afternoon.Woods is ranked 898th in the world and he is playing in a field that has no other player worse than 38th. Amoong those he is competing against are defending champion Bubba Watson, 2016 major winners Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson and Jimmy Walker, as well as Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose and U.ddddddddddddS. Ryder Cup stars Rickie Fowler and Patrick Reed, who will be grouped with Woods on Thursday.He has won the event five times, but two years ago, in his last appearance in the tournament, Woods finished tied for last.The tournament is reserved for the defending champion, major winners and those ranked among the top 50 in the world, which prompted Woods to quip: The committee allowed one player from outside the top 50 to get into the event.Woods is actually afforded a spot because of his role as host of the event -- otherwise he would not be eligible. Because the event offers World Ranking points and has such a strong field, Woods is guaranteed to move up approximately 150 spots just for finishing four rounds.And even that would be a victory for Woods, which he grudgingly acknowledges.Im playing again, yeah, he said. After 15 months of not competing ... last year at this time I gave you a different answer because that was the reality of it. Im sitting here in front of you guys with a different reality because things have improved so much that Im able to come back here and do this again. It hasnt been easy.People around me who know me -- my physicians, my friends, family -- they know how hard its been to get to this point. Its taken a lot of work, but Im here.Woods touched on various other subjects, such as his new bag sponsorship with Monster Energy; previously reported facts about what will be in his bag this week; his desire to one day be a U.S. Ryder Cup captain but that he wants to make the next team; and how he set up the second phase of his career for beyond golf.But I want to do this as long as I can, as long as the body will allow me to, he said. ' ' '