Rio still in McIlroy's plans, but Irish Open champ monitoring Zika virus

Rory McIlroy still plans to represent Ireland when golf returns as an Olympic event for the first time in more than a century in Rio, but did admit he's wary of the Zika virus remaining prevalent in parts of South America.

McIlroy told the BBC after his win at the Irish Open - his first this season - that he's monitoring the epidemic, which has affected Rio, but as of now still plans to go.

He cited his desire to have a family as a consideration.

"There's going to be a point in the next couple of years where we're going to have to think about starting a family," McIlroy said of he and his fiancee Erica, via ESPN. "Right now, I'm ready to go, but I don't want anything to affect that."

Pregnant women are encouraged to not travel to the area due to concerns of the Zika virus, which is spread through mosquito bites, causing birth defects.