Fort McMurray, AB – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit leader Joel Dahmen tied the course record at Fort McMurray Golf Club on Thursday, carding a 9-under 63 to take the first round lead at the Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON.

The Clarkston, Washington native, who claimed the PC Financial Open three weeks ago for his first PGA TOUR Canada win, made 10 birdies and one bogey to lead by two shots over Massachusetts’ Evan Harmeling.

“I actually only made one putt outside of 12 feet, so I hit it really close all day,” said Dahmen. “My wedges were on fire.”

The 26-year old comes to Fort McMurray a year after sharing the 54-hole lead at the 2013 Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON, and while he was only able to muster a 1-under 71 and a tie for fourth last year, Dahmen said he was comfortable on Thursday thanks to his experience last year.

“I played really aggressively off the tee today,” said Dahmen. “There are some lines off the tee I can be more aggressive on because I’m more comfortable out here, and I hit it really well, so that helps a lot.”

With a win at the start of the 2014 season, Dahmen said he felt comfortable taking more risk in his on-course strategy to try and secure another strong finish to solidify his place atop the Order of Merit.

“I’m playing well and I’m hitting it well, so that helps me to play aggressively, but knowing I had a little head start and a win in the back pocket definitely frees me up a lot,” said Dahmen.

Two shots behind Dahmen, Harmeling said a solid day on the greens propelled him to his opening round of 65, his lowest career round on PGA TOUR Canada.

“I came out here yesterday and made everything and kind of continued it on today,” said Harmeling. “I thought they were rolling true. I’m really happy with how I played. I putted really well out there.”

Another shot behind Harmeling were California’s Daniel Miernicki, who held the lead for much of the day by carding the low round of the morning wave, and Sarnia, Ontario’s Matt Hill, who birdied his final three holes for a 6-under 66.

HILL MAKES MOST OF RETURN WITH OPENING 66
Two years ago at the Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON, Sarnia, Ontario’s Matt Hill was in the middle of a torrid run that drove him to an Order of Merit title. The former Jack Nicklaus Award winner at NC State University wound up losing in a playoff to Cory Renfrew, then won the following week at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open presented by SaskTel to cement his top spot, eventually earning a spot on the Web.com Tour for 2013.

Playing this week on a sponsor’s exemption, Hill finds himself in a different situation with a chance to play his way up the conditional member ranking with a solid finish this week. The 25-year old said he was simply focusing on playing good golf, however, and avoiding any distractions.

“I’m not really looking at what everything means. I’m just out trying to have some fun and play golf,” said Hill. “I know I can win out here, and that’s my goal. I try to prepare as well as I can and just try to play smart golf and hit fairways and greens.”

ANDERSON USES HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE IN ROUND ONE
When four-time PGA TOUR Canada winner Stuart Anderson was a kid, he would take advantage of the long northern Alberta summer days by playing 54 holes a day at Fort McMurray Golf Club, breeding a familiarity with the golf course few players can claim at a PGA TOUR Canada event.

“You can close your eyes and go through every piece of the property. It’s a beautiful place and I love being here,” said Anderson, who fired a 3-under 69 in round one to sit tied for 20th.

The 36-year old is playing on a sponsor’s exemption this week, and looking to get back to the form that saw him win as recently as the 2011 TOUR Championship of Canada. After reaching the Web.com Tour in 2012, Anderson failed to keep his PGA TOUR Canada card last season and finds himself looking to return to the TOUR with a solid performance on his home track. One way to do that would be finishing in the top-20 this week and earning a start at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open presented by SaskTel in two weeks.

“One goal is to finish top-20 so I play the next event in Saskatoon,” said Anderson. “Overall I’m happy. Going into the week I had the goal of shooting in the 60s every day, so it’s a good start to that.”

PINEHURST, N.C. – Just over 1,000 yards shorter didn’t make Pinehurst No. 2 feel any easier in the U.S. Women’s Open on Thursday.

Except for Stacy Lewis.

The top-ranked Lewis took note of how Martin Kaymer won the U.S. Open last week and took a small step in that direction. She had a 3-under 67 in the morning and built a two-shot lead among the early starters on a blistering day in the North Carolina sandhills.

Kaymer also opened with a bogey-free round (65) and went wire-to-wire for an eight-shot victory.

“It was such an easy day,” Lewis said, speaking of the stress-free round more than the golf course. “I played really, really solid, other that I had to make a few par putts. But other than that, I didn’t put myself in too bad of spots and made a few birdies.”

Lucy Li, the 11-year-old who is the youngest qualifier in Women’s Open history, had a triple bogey and two double bogeys that ruined an otherwise solid round. She shot 78 and was 11 shots behind, likely needing a round in the 60s to have any chance of making the cut.

“Getting to play in the U.S. Open was a lot of fun,” Li said. “I learned that you’ve got to be patient. One shot at a time. Try to get rid of the big numbers.”

More than the biggest event in women’s golf, it’s also a grand experiment for the USGA. This is the first time the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open have been played on the same course in back-to-back weeks.

The course measured 6,296 yards – 1,064 yards shorter than the opening round for the men – though there were plenty of indications that it was equally tough. The early part of the first round for the men was played under cloud cover, making Pinehurst feel soft. The sun already was broiling, with more wind, on this day.

Only two other players from the morning group broke par. Former Women’s Open champion So Yeon Ryu and Katherine Kirk each had a 69.

Lewis didn’t come to Pinehurst early to watch the final round of the men’s Open, instead seeing the course for a practice round a few weeks ago.

“It was cool to see the plan I had laid out in my head. He was kind of doing the same thing,” said Lewis, a two-time winner in her last five tour starts. “So it was nice coming into the week knowing that y plan as going to work on this golf course. I thought that somebody, like the guys, can run away with this. If you’re hitting the ball well enough, you can definitely run away with it. At the same time, you have to know par is a good number and keep grinding away.”

Karrie Webb, who won a U.S. Women’s Open at nearby Pine Needles in 2001, had a 70. Juli Inkster, at 53 and playing in the Women’s Open for the 35th and final time, made a late bogey and shot a 71.

Other players were headed in the wrong direction.

Defending champion Inbee Park shot a 76, her highest open-round score in this event since her debut as a 16-year-old in 2004. Jessica Korda, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour this year, had a 79.

There were 11 rounds in the 80s among the 78 players who went early.

Amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. had the lead early in the day and continues to develop her confidence at LPGA events.

“Yeah, there definitely are some nerves out there, especially on the first tee,” said the 16-year old. “Everybody gets those… But I’ve definitely become a lot more comfortable the last couple of LPGA events that I played in. I’m getting to know the pros a little bit more, getting to know where my game is compared to theirs, which is definitely exciting and hopefully in the future I’ll play against them a little bit more.”

Sitting tied for 11th, it’s fairly safe to expect she’ll three more rounds with the pros this week.

“It was pretty cool being up there, closer to the top of the leaderboard,” she added. “It was definitely fun and hopefully I’ll put a good round together tomorrow and make the cut and then hopefully climb up the leaderboard on the weekend.”

Langley, B.C.’s Sue Kim also opened with a 71. Jessica Wallace, also of Langley, B.C., shot 74.

Amateur Elizabeth Tong of Richmond Hill, Ont. had a 76. while Richmond Hill’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham shot 78.

CROMWELL, Conn. – Brendan Steele changed his putter and ended up equaling the lowest round of his career at the Travelers Championship.

Steele shot an 8-under 62 on Thursday morning that stood up for a one-stroke lead in the first round at TPC River Highlands.

The 31-year-old Californian opened with an eagle, holing a 129-yard wedge shot in the rain. He birdied six of the next 12 holes, and closed the bogey-free round with five straight pars.

Steele went from a long to a short putter while trying to qualify for the U.S. Open and though he missed that tournament, he said the change seems to be paying off. He needed just 26 putts Thursday.

“Speed control is a lot better,” he said.

Steele finished two shots off the course record set by Patrick Cantlay in 2011 as an amateur.

“On 14, I started to think 59, which is probably why I slowed down a little bit,” Steele said.

Bud Cauley and Ryan Moore shot 63, and Chad Campbell, Joe Durant, Scott Langley, Eric Axley and Jeff Maggert followed at 64.

Former Stanford stars Patrick Rodgers and Cameron Wilson made their pro debuts, with Rodgers shooting a 66, and Wilson a 73. Rodgers won 11 college tournaments and this year’s Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus awards as the nation’s top college player. Wilson won the NCAA individual title.

Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton, coming off a second-place tie in the U.S. Open, had a 74.

Steele and Cauley went out in a steady rain Thursday morning, but by noon the sun had broken through.

“It took the rain pretty well,” said Masters champion Bubba Watson, who shot a 67 and was among 75 players to break par. “It’s kind of soft, but not too windy, so you can score around it.”

But nobody could catch Steele, who had spent last week watching from the stands as his favorite hockey team, the Los Angeles Kings, won the Stanley Cup.

Cauley started on the back nine and got his round going on the signature 15th hole. He avoided the woods on the right and put his tee shot within 20 feet, then made the eagle putt.

“With that pin back right, if you hit it right, that’s obviously not where you want to be, and obviously there’s water left,” he said. “So I hit that right where I was trying to and rolled it up there and capitalized with the putt.”

Campbell was at 7 under until he hit it into the water on the same hole.

Moore, who has four top-10 finishes in eight starts at this tournament, credited his 63 to a decision not to practice after a poor round in the pro-am Wednesday.

“I was relaxed and comfortable and just went out and played golf today instead of overdoing it and over-thinking it, which I feel like I’ve maybe done a little lately,” Moore said. “I’ve been practicing too much.”

Trevor Immelman had the shot of the day, making a double eagle from 246 yards on the par-5 13th hole. He used a 3-wood and cleared a green-side water hazard.

“The main thing is to keep it dry,” he said. “You got to get it over there, and it came out pretty good and started rolling.”

Immelman also had three bogeys in his round of 68.

Defending champion Ken Duke opened with a 65.

Louis Oosthuizen withdrew after seven holes because of back issues.

Canada’s Brad Fitsch shot 65 to sit tied for ninth at the close of the first round, and Graham DeLaet shot even par to tie for 76th.

The final round of the Men’s Mid Amateur Championship at Athabasca Golf & Country Club started off rainy and remained dreary throughout the day, however, Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta. was able to battle the elements and win his 4th Alberta Men’s Mid Amateur Championship shooting an impressive 2-under 70 to clinch the title.

Van Dornick knew he had his work cut out for him, holding off some of the provinces best golfers aged 25 plus.

“The course played tight and demanding off the tee, you could double bogey in a heartbeat, ” Van Dornick said. “Harry played well, if there was anyone I was looking at, it was him. The intensity increases and you focus a little harder, playing with that lead group, you become more aware of what you need to do.”

Van Dornick put together a round that only had two bogeys and he was able to recreate his 2nd round performance by birdieing the 18th. Harry Aime of St. Albert, Alta., and Kevin Temple of Calgary both matched Van Dornick’s 2-under 70, but could not gain any ground because of Van Dornick’s consistency. They finished second and third respectively.

Frank Van Dornick and Harry Aime were scheduled to represent Alberta this fall at the Canadian Men’s Mid Amateur Championship at Barrie Country Club in Barrie, Ont. However, Van Dornick declined, so his spot will be filled by Kevin Temple.  The Canadian Men’s Mid Amateur Championship will take place September 16th-19th.  Temple and Aime will be joined by the top 25+ Mid Amateur’s at the Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship.

Click here for full scoring from the 2014 Alberta Men’s Mid Amateur Championship.

VERNON, British Columbia – Jackie Little won her fourth British Columbia Golf Senior Women’s Championship in addition to placing first in the Mid-Master Championship Thursday at Vernon Golf and Country Club; while Holly Horwood took home top honours in the Super-Senior Championship.

Little closed out the championships shooting 78-73-78 for a final of +7 on the 5919-yard par-74 course with a comfortable six-stroke lead.

“The golf course was in fabulous shape, the greens were beautiful. And tricky,” said Little. “I haven’t been here for 10 years, and I forgot how subtly tricky these greens are.”

Four bogeys on the back nine and tricky greens made less of an impact after the Port Alberni resident shot a championship-best 73 on the second day of competition and entered the final round five strokes ahead of Horwood in second.

In addition to taking the titles in individual competition, Little won the Zone Team Competition on Wednesday as part of the Zone Six team with Karen Kloske.

Horwood struggled on the back nine for the second day in a row, carding a total of seven bogeys out, but had cultivated a strong enough lead during the first two days of competition to hold second place in the Mid-Master and Senior Championships and first in the Super-Senior event shooting +13 (75-78-82).

“It’s so nice that they do honour the over-60’s, I think that’s very important for the longevity of the game,” said Horwood.

The 2006 & 2007 Champion’s performance was highlighted by two eagles both on number six on the first and second days of competition.

Penny Baziuk, representing Ardmore Golf Course, finished at +15 (78-79-80) to round out the top three in the Mid-Master and Senior Women’s Championships. Baziuk played consistently over the three days of competition earning her bronze medal finish and the final spot on the provincial team that will compete at nationals in August.

In the Super-Senior Championship, Alison Murdoch of Victoria, pulled off a spectacular come-from-behind performance, finishing second at +16 after her best round of the championship. Murdoch recorded three birdies on the final day of play; Murdoch improved her scores each day shooting 83-79-76.

Defending Senior Women’s champion, Lynda Palahniuk placed third in the Super-Senior Championship despite struggling on the final day of competition shooting an 84 to finish the Championship 17-over par (76-79-84).

Little, Horwood and Baziuk have earned spots to represent British Columbia Golf at the Canadian Senior Women’s Championship at Milby Golf Club in Sherbrooke, Que on August 19-21.

Best-ball competition

Dee Horie and Sheila van Gisbergen finished first in the best-ball competition. Scoring for this event was taken from the teams combined best score for each hole over the three days of competition; it differs from a four-ball competition in that teammates were not paired together.

The pair finished at an impressive 36-under (60-63-63) with a total of seven eagles and only two bogeys blemishing their scorecard.

Darleen Michell and Susan Ovans finished second in the best-ball competition 28-under par (65-64-65) followed two stroked behind by Nina Henriksen and Susan Russell (71-63-62).

CORK, Ireland – Finland’s Mikko Illonen shot a 7-under-par 64 to set a new course record on Thursday as crowd favorite Rory McIlroy struggled on the opening day of the Irish Open.

Illonen birdied five of his closing seven holes in superb morning conditions on the Fota Island course in Cork and took a three-stroke clubhouse lead over Italy’s Edoardo Molinari and England’s Matthew Baldwin, who were the next best among the early finishers.

The 64 is a new low for a course that has undergone major changes since its previous staging of the Irish Open in 2002.

McIlroy hit just eight of the 14 fairways and took 30 putts in a round of three-over 74.

Illonen is playing his 300th European Tour event and said Thursday’s round was belated reward for good recent form.

“I lost out in a play-off to Sergio (Garcia) in the Qatar Masters earlier this year and recently in the Nordea Masters I felt my game was good despite finishing 32nd, which is still a mystery how I finished 32nd that week as I was hitting my best shots of the week there,” Ilonen said.

“Maybe the good golf is there but then we still have a long way to go this week.”

McIlroy said jetlag, and the late arrival of his clubs after returning from the U.S. Open, contributed to his disappointing showing in front of home fans.

“I was very sloppy with the scoring clubs today, wedges, the short game, the putting,” McIlroy said. “All that was just a little off.

“So hopefully that is my poor round for the week and I can do a better job of that tomorrow and I’ll need something in the low 60s just to be here on the weekend.”

History will be made Thursday when the U.S. Women’s Open Championship kicks off at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, a week after Martin Kaymer captured the men’s championship on the same venue. This will mark the first time men and women have played a golf major at the same venue on back-to-back weeks.

The top female players in the world will take the spotlight at the par-70 6,649 yard championship course including five Canadians who will look to bring home Canada’s first U.S. Women’s Open Championship title.

Get to know the Canadians in the field…

Rebecca Lee-Bentham, 22, Toronto, Ont. (@RLeebentham)

• Ranked No. 231 in the Rolex Rankings
• Finished T11 at the 2013 Evian Championship
• 2014 LPGA Tour member
• A member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad

Brooke Henderson, 16, Smiths Falls, Ont.

• No. 3 ranked amateur in the world, No. 308 in the Rolex Rankings
• Finished T26 at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship
• Finished T59 at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open
• Has won five straight amateur titles (Porter Cup, Scott Robertson Memorial, Sally Amateur, Spirit Invitational and Junior Orange Bowl)
• A member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Team

Sue Kim, 23, Langley, B.C. (@TheSueKim)

• Ranked No. 388 in the Rolex Rankings
• Finished T35 at the 2014 LPGA Manulife Financial Classic
• 2014 LPGA Tour member
• A member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad

Jessica Wallace, 23, Langley, B.C. (@JessWGolf)

• Past Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario Champion (2011)
• Member of the LPGA’s Symetra Tour
• Former member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad

Elizabeth Tong, 21, Thornhill, Ont. (@lizabeth_tong)

• Senior at Indiana University (Division I NCAA)
• Winner of two NCAA titles during sophomore season at Indiana

For pairings and tee times, click here.

MONTREAL – Momentum around Canada’s National Open Golf Championships continues to build as Golf Canada and RBC announced several PGA Tour stars have confirmed their intention to compete in the 2014 RBC Canadian Open, July 21-27 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Que including World No. 15 Dustin Johnson, World No. 21 Charl Schwartzel, World No. 41 Chris Kirk, World No. 46 Matt Every and World No. 80 Charley Hoffman.

The big-hitting Johnson, a fan favourite on the PGA Tour, is an eight-time Tour winner who currently sits 4^th on the FedEx Cup ranking. Schwartzel, who counts the 2011 Masters as his lone PGA Tour victory, is currently ranked 79^th on the FedEx Cup ranking while Hoffman is a two-time PGA Tour winner who sits 36^th on the FedEx Cup ranking.

Ranked 7^th in the FedEx Cup standings, Kirk, who recently claimed the McGladrey Classic, is one of eight in year winners confirmed for Royal Montreal including Dustin Johnson (World Golf Championship), Matt Kuchar (RBC Heritage), Matt Every (Arnold Palmer Invitational), Steve Bowditch (Valero Texas Open), Matt Jones (Shell Houston Open), Kevin Stadler (Waste Management Phoenix Open) and Chesson Hadley (Puerto Rico Open).

The field of players will include eight past champions who will challenge for Canada’s National Open title including defending champion Brandt Snedeker (2013), Scott Piercy (2012), Sean O’Hair (2011), Carl Pettersson (2010), Nathan Green (2009), Jim Furyk (2006 & 2007), Vijay Singh (2004) and John Rollins (2002).

Past major champions such as Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman have also confirmed their intention to play at Canada’s National Open Championship.

Beon Yeong Lee of Montreal will have the benefit of a home crowd behind him after earning his spot by winning the RBC Canadian Open Quebec Regional Qualifier on Monday, June 16^th at Elm Ridge Country Club in Île-Bizard, Que.

The players announced today will join a player field of previously confirmed PGA Tour stars that includes World No. 5 Matt Kuchar; World No. 12 Jim Furyk; World No. 20 Luke Donald; World No. 22 Graeme McDowell; World No. 40 Hunter Mahan and World No. 54 Ernie Els.

Canadian notables set to compete include World No. 35 Graham DeLaet, World No. 90 David Hearn, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir and Stephen Ames, who will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame later this summer. The Canadian foursome will be joined by Adam Hadwin and Brad Fritsch and will vie to see if one of them can become the first Canuck to capture the title since Pat Fletcher won the Canadian Open in 1954.

Additional exemptions for Canadian amateur and professional golfers competing in the 2014 RBC Canadian Open will be announced in the coming weeks.

VOLUNTEERS:
Golf Canada and the Royal Montreal Golf Club are pleased to announce that a limited number of volunteer positions are still available for golf enthusiasts to be a part of the RBC Canadian Open. In all, nearly 1,400 volunteer committee positions will contribute to the success of Canada’s National Open Golf Championship and anyone interested in applying can do so at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

TICKETS:
Grounds tickets for all days of Canada’s National Open Championship as well as a limited number of premium ticket packages are still available. A full list of ticket packages and pricing, including the new Family Day package, is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com. Golf Canada and RBC are also please to offer free admission to children 17 year and younger who are accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Click here to listen to a media conference from Wednesday, June 18th at The Royal Montreal Golf Club.

MONTREAL – From July 21 to July 27, 2014, some of the top-ranked PGA Tour players will visit Montreal for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard. They will be doing more than just competing: they will also take time to support Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada, the tournament’s official charity partner for the second consecutive year.

The RBC Foundation announced last year a two-year commitment to RMHC Canada by designating it as the official charity partner for the 2013 and 2014 editions of the RBC Canadian Open. The $500,000 donation is being used to increase the support, resources and knowledge related to the mental health and well-being of the thousands of families with seriously ill children that stay at the 14 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada each year.

It is now well-documented that the families of sick children experience substantial levels of stress and anxiety following their child’s diagnosis and hospitalization.  Thanks to this generous donation, a pilot test is in progress at two Ronald McDonald Houses, in Toronto and Montreal, to explore and evaluate activities and resources that will support the emotional health and healing of families, as well as an education program for staff and volunteers. The new program will be finalized and rolled-out nationally to all Ronald McDonald Houses in 2015.

“We sincerely appreciate the support RBC provides through the RBC Canadian Open. Last year, the tournament was a resounding success, and we are confident this year’s event in Montreal will be just as exciting,” said Cathy Loblaw, President and CEO of RMHC Canada. “RBC’s contribution will help us fulfill our mission to offer a home away from home for out of town families with sick children being treated at a nearby hospital. Oftentimes these families must travel a long way from home for treatments. Research clearly suggests that sick children recover faster when they are with their families, and it is therefore even more important that parents be able to spend time with their children.”

“I work in the business sector, and I am used to receiving requests for donations, but I never thought I would once need that help. We stayed three times at the House in the last months for my daughter Lauri-Pier’s treatments, and each time I have been amazed by the positive energy in the House. It offers affordable housing, but beyond the cost, the most precious thing is the comfort we get from other families and the fact that we are literally a few minutes from the hospital,” said Frédéric Brière, who stayed at the Montreal Ronald McDonald House when his twelve year-old daughter Lauri-Pier had an ulcerative colitis.

Activities planned in support of RMHC
On-site at the Royal Montreal Golf Course for a minimum donation of $5, golf fans will have priority access (first come first served) to enjoy bleacher seating at holes 16, 17 and 18 by purchasing a special RMHC access tag.  The RMHC access tag will also give the chance to attendees to win random prizes and other special incentives. RMHC coin collection boxes will also be available throughout the site.

RBC will also assist with RMHC fundraising, with the sale of unique water carriers that can be filled from on-site water stations.    Finally, the Wives of the PGA Tour Association are also working closely with RMHC, RBC and Golf Canada, and will coordinate and host a picnic for the families of the Ronald McDonald House in Montreal during the week of the Open.

Ronald McDonald Houses in Quebec
There are two Ronald McDonald Houses in Quebec: one in Montreal, located next to the CHU Ste-Justine, and one in Quebec City, located close to the Centre mère-enfant du CHUQ à Québec. Over the years, both Houses were forced to turn away more than 1,000 families, because they were filled to capacity every night. In 2010, the Quebec City House was renovated and expanded from 19 to 32 rooms. The following year, the Montreal House was rebuilt to increase its capacity from 35 to 50 rooms.

Click here to listen to the June 18th press conference from The Royal Montreal Golf Club.

CORK, Ireland – After months of indecision over who to represent, Rory McIlroy announced Wednesday that he will play for Ireland – not Britain – at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The 25-year-old McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland, was eligible to play for either Ireland or Team GB when golf makes its return to the Olympics in Brazil for the first time since 1904.

Having played all of his amateur golf under the auspices of the Dublin-based Golfing Union of Ireland, the two-time major winner opted to stay with Ireland for the Olympics.

“I have been thinking about the decision a lot and remembered all the times I represented Ireland as an amateur,” McIlroy said on the eve of the Irish Open in Cork. “I was always very proud to put on the Irish uniform and play as an amateur and as a boy, and I would be very proud to do it again.”

Citizens of Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, can hold both British and Irish citizenship. Most of the Protestant majority is British, most of its Catholic minority Irish.

McIlroy, while raised a Catholic, grew up in the predominantly Protestant town of Holywood east of Belfast and once said he considered himself more British than Irish.

His 2012 comments – suggesting he might prefer to join the British team – provoked strong ill feelings from Irish golf fans. McIlroy initially said he might skip Rio entirely to avoid alienating fans further.

Two other top Northern Ireland golfers, Darren Clarke and McDowell, are Protestants who have identified with Ireland.

McIlroy has twice played in golf’s World Cup for Ireland, both times alongside fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.

“Just because I’m getting paid to play this great game now doesn’t mean I should change (teams),” McIlroy said. “So I’m very happy with my decision. It means I can look forward to the Olympics in a couple of years’ time – you know, if I qualify, obviously, for the team.

“I just thought it was the right thing to do. It was the right time to let everyone know. Now I’m really looking forward to Rio in `16.”

McIlroy announced his decision ahead of next month’s International Golf Federation meeting that will finalize the eligibility criteria for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.

“There’s no point in delaying it and letting it linger any longer,” he said. “Watching the World Cup in Brazil, thinking about Brazil in a couple of years’ time, it just sort of got me thinking, maybe I should just go ahead and get it out of the way.”

Still, McIlroy said, winning an Olympic medal would not match winning a major championship.

“The majors in our sport are the biggest and best prizes in the game,” he said. “But as hopefully golf grows in the Olympics and becomes, say, bigger in four or five games down the line, then it might become bigger.”