Rory McIlroy says golf will not be one of the sports that 'matter' at the Olympics

Rory McIlroy has suggested that golf will not be one of the sports that "matter" at next month's Rio Olympics.

After much deliberation, McIlroy last month opted out of the Games, saying he was concerned about the Zika virus.

Speaking ahead of this week's Open, McIlroy said he was "very comfortable" with his decision to pull out of the Olympics, adding he may not bother watching the Rio golf action on TV.

"I'm very happy with the decision I've made, I have no regrets," said McIlroy.

"I'll probably watch the Olympics, but I'm not sure golf will be one of the events I'll watch."

Asked which events he'd watch, McIlroy replied: "Probably the events that…track and field, swimming, diving, the stuff that matters."

Jordan Spieth is among other top golfers to have pulled out of the Olympics

McIlroy denies Rio absence is 'letting game down'

McIlroy rejected suggestions that the decision of several top players to withdraw from the Olympics was "letting the game down".

The sport is making its return to Olympic competition after an 112-year absence.

"I don't feel like I've let the game down at all. I didn't get into golf to try to grow the game, I tried to get into golf to win championships," he told a pre-Open Championship news conference at Royal Troon.

"All of a sudden you get to this point and there is a responsibility on you to grow the game, and I get that.

"But at the same time that's not the reason that I got into golf. I got into golf to win. I didn't get into golf to get other people into the game."

Golf 'must improve drug testing policy'

Also in his news conference, McIlroy said that golf had to improve is drug testing policy because it is "some way behind the other sports".

The World Anti Doping Agency's (Wada) most recent report from 2014, revealed 507 tests were carried out on golfers with eight testing positive.

"On average, we get tested four or five times a year. It's very little compared to other Olympic sports," said McIlroy.

Northern Ireland's world number four added: "I have been tested once for drugs this year, the day before the US Open. It was only a urine test, not a blood one.

"But I don't think there are drugs that can make you better across the board.

"There are drugs that can make you stronger and make you concentrate more but not that can make you a better all-round golfer, as far as I am aware.

"I could take HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and get away with it."