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Rory McIlroy concerned about Zika ahead of Olympics

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy holds the trophy after winning the Irish Open at The K Club, County Kildare, Ireland, Sunday May 22, 2016. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy holds the trophy after winning the Irish Open at The K Club, County Kildare, Ireland, Sunday May 22, 2016. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy holds the trophy after winning the Irish Open at The K Club, County Kildare, Ireland, Sunday May 22, 2016. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT

LONDON (AP) – Rory McIlroy says he is monitoring the situation involving the Zika virus ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

McIlroy is scheduled to play for Ireland as golf makes its return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904.

The four-time major winner says he is looking forward to playing in Rio but has concerns about the mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to serious birth defects.

McIlroy tells the BBC he has been reading “a lot of reports about Zika and there have been some articles coming out saying that it might be worse than they’re saying and I have to monitor that situation.”

McIlroy says he and his fiancee, Erica Stoll, may consider starting a family “in the next couple of years.”