Adam Scott opts out of 2021 Summer Olympics

Adam Scott has withdrawn his name from consideration for the 2021 Summer Olympics.

The 2013 Masters champ, who was projected to represent Australia in the Tokyo Games, had originally said in January the competition was “certainly something I’ll look at.” However, in the latest Olympic Golf Ranking on the International Golf Federation’s website, Scott’s name is no longer featured.

In a statement to Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, manager Johan Elliot confirmed that Scott is passing on the Olympic contest.

“With the world being the way it is, Adam is gone 4-5 weeks at a time this year during his playing blocks,” Elliot told Golf Channel. “With three young children at home, this time in the schedule will be devoted to family. It is pretty much the only time up until October when he has a chance to see them for a stretch of time and not only a few days/a week.”

Scott also skipped golf’s return to the Summer Games in 2016, and has expressed disappointment with the event's 72-hole stroke play format. The leading candidates to represent Australia now are Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman (who are playing together at this week's Zurich Classic), with Matt Jones as the first replacement. 

Scott is not the first big name to opt out of the 2021 Olympics. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson did not enter his name into qualifying, citing at Players Championship schedule concerns played a role in his decision.

“It's a long way to travel, and I think WGC is the week right after it. The British [Open] is a couple weeks before it,” Johnson said. “It's a lot of traveling at a time where it's important for me to feel like I'm focused playing on the PGA Tour.” World No. 9 Webb Simpson has also telegraphed he’ll likely pass on the Olympics.

The top 15 players in the Olympic Golf Rankings (which essentially mirror the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Rolex Rankings for women) will be eligible for the Olympics up to a maximum of four golfers per country. After the top 15, the field will be filled until getting to 60 golfers by going down the Olympic Golf Ranking, with the top two ranked players qualifying from any country that does not have two or more players from the top 15. The host country, Japan, is also guaranteed at least two golfers in the field. Men’s qualifying ends on June 21, the day after the U.S. Open; women’s qualifying ends June 28.

The men’s competition at the 2021 Summer Olympics begins July 29 at Kasumigaseki C.C., just outside Tokyo, Japan. Justin Rose is the defending gold medal winner.