Australia's Marc Leishman out of Rio Olympics consideration

Published May. 4, 2016 11:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Marc Leishman has joined Adam Scott in deciding not to play golf for Australia at the Rio Olympics in August, with Leishman citing concerns over the health of his family because of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

Leishman's American wife, Audrey, nearly died last year from toxic shock syndrome. Leishman said in a PGA of Australia statement Thursday that after consulting with doctors, he decided not to travel to Brazil for golf's return to the Olympics after 112 years.

Leishman says since his wife ''is far removed from 100 percent recovery of her immune system ... and due to her ongoing recovery and potential risks associated with the transmission of the Zika virus, it was a difficult, yet easy decision not to participate.''