How the Tokyo Olympics 2020 Changed Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas’ Perspective About Golf

The men’s golf competition at Tokyo Olympics 2020 concluded recently. And Irishman Rory McIlroy, who did not have a positive opinion about the Olympics, is leaving Tokyo with a new perspective. He finished the event at T4 and missed the bronze medal by a whisker in the playoffs. 

Rory had a slow start as he struggled on day one. However, he made an emphatic comeback in the next two rounds and gave himself a chance to win a medal. But unfortunately, McIlroy was denied a medal as he couldn’t drain his birdie putt in the bronze medal playoff. However, the experience of playing in the Olympics seems to have changed his perspective in a good way. 

Rory McIlroy and JT leave the Tokyo Olympics 2020 with a new perspective

Earlier, Rory McIlroy had said that the Olympic games do not really attract much interest in him and that his participation in Tokyo was just to benefit golf in some way. He also qualified through the OWGR ranking. But coming to Tokyo and playing four rounds of golf at Kasumigaseki Country Club completely changed McIlroy’s perspective about the tournament. 

“I made some comments before that were probably uneducated and impulsive. But, coming here experiencing it, seeing, feeling everything that goes on, not just the Olympic golf but just the Olympics in general. That sort of Olympic spirit’s definitely bitten me,” said McIlroy after the final round at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Apart from Rory McIlroy, even Justin Thomas left Tokyo with a sort of similar perspective about the prestigious event.  

“I was never hitting putts as an 8, 10-year-old on the putting green to win the Olympics and win a gold medal. So I think when you don’t have the ability to dream something when you get here it’s, it can sometimes just take you by surprise and this definitely exceeded that,” said JT after the final round at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

Meanwhile, Justin Thomas did not have a good start to the Olympics. But still, he finished T22 thanks to his incredible final round where he scored 65 to remain -10 for the event.

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