Women Golfers Dismiss Zika Fears

(ATR) Unlike some of their male counterparts, professional women golfers head to Rio de Janeiro without dread of the Zika virus.

Players on the Ladies European Tour competing this week at the Pilsen Golf Masters in the Czech Republic say any potential threat from the mosquito-borne virus will not prevent them from participating in the return of golf to the Olympic Games.

"I know it’s a big issue, but the Olympics are a real dream in my life, so I’ll go and be very careful obviously," said Belgian Chloe Leurquin, 25. "I’m not planning on having a kid soon, so I’ll take the risk."

"How can you miss the Olympics – for Russia it’s so massive, so for me to not go to the Olympic Games, they’d probably punish me or send me out of the country," said Maria Verchenova, 30, also a mother of one child. "I would never miss it."

"A guy from our federation went to Rio traveling with a lot of people in the spring and said that no one got stung," said Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen. "I’m only 21 and not thinking about having babies right now, so I’m not concerned.

Fourteen of the ladies playing the Olympic qualifying tournament in the Czech Republic are on track for Rio based upon the International Golf Federation Olympic Golf Rankings.

"IGF has been advising us and from what I understand if you follow the necessary precautions, covering yourself and using enough repellent you should be fine," said 18-year-old Aditi Ashok of India.

The men are more circumspect about Rio. Australian Marc Leishman and Fiji’s Vijay Singh said they will miss the Olympic golf tournament, citing the Zika virus. Leishman said he was concerned about the risks of transmitting the virus to his wife, who has a poor immune system.

World number three Rory McIlroy and Masters Champion Danny Willett said they are monitoring the situation before making a decision on Rio.

"I haven’t heard any of the girls say 'I’m not going to play because of the Zika virus' but I understand some of the concerns," Miriam Nagl of Brazil.

The World Health Organization claims there is a "very low risk" of further international spread of the Zika virus as a result of the Olympic Games being held in Brazil.

The WHO Emergency Committee on Zika reaffirmed this week its previous advice that there should be "no general restrictions on travel and trade with countries, areas and/or territories" as a result of Zika.

Olympic-size Boost for Women’s Golf

With 50 days until the Rio Games open, the female pros expressed excitement and enthusiasm about being a part of only the second women’s Olympic golf tournament. Women competed at the Paris 1900 Games with Margaret Abbott leading an American sweep of the medals.

"As a golfer, you never really think that you would have the chance to contest in the Olympics – it’s the one place that every sports person wants to be," Aditi Ashok said. "It’s great for women’s golf, so I’m excited to be a part of it."

"In my country India, my playing in the Olympics will make it a lot bigger. A lot of people want to know about Olympic golf now," she said.

"It’s going to bring the spotlight on the sport and I think a lot of sponsors now may think more about sponsoring women’s golf," said Chloe Leurquin.

Sixty women golfers will tee it up on the new Olympic course in Barra da Tijuca, August 17-20.

"I’ve asked to go to the Opening Ceremony because this might be my only Olympic Games," Leurquin added. "I’ll go and I’ll practice for a week and then play the tournament."

Ladies European Tour CEO Ivan Peter Khodabaksh said golf in the Olympics "offers a unique platform for the Ladies European Tour."

"The Olympic Games is the greatest show on earth and an unprecedented opportunity for women’s golf to reach an audience of billions to excite a new generation," Khodabaksh said.

The Sand Trap Long Jump and Flagpole Javelin?

In an Olympic themed promotion for the Ladies European Tour, four golfers joined in a video shoot in which golfers competed in the sand trap long jump, flagpole javelin and golf ball shot put.

Noora Tamminen of Finland, Leurquin of Belgium and Nagl of Brazil competed for medals, while Nagl's teammate Victoria Lovelady served as a stern official.

Nagl tossed the flagpole javelin 21-9 meters on her way to winning gold in the Olympic golf triathlon.

"I’ve never jumped into a sand trap before so something different for sure," Nagl said. "It’s a fun way to boost our sport and overall there has been so much more attention over the last month."

The LET plans to use the humorous video during coverage of the Pilsen Golf Masters, for social media and on their website, and also for distribution to the IGF for further promotion in the lead-up to the Games.

Written by Brian Pinelli in Pilsen, Czech Republic.