Golf news: Jordan Spieth still undecided on 2016 Rio Olympics

Second-ranked Jordan Spieth said he remains undecided about whether he will participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Spieth would be the top-ranked player in the field after No. 1-ranked Jason Day announced he will not play due to concerns about the Zika virus.

"Right now, I'm uncertain, Spieth told reporters at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. "I have not received enough information to make an informed decision either way or not, so as we gather more information I will be able to make a decision one way or the other.

"When I feel confident, I will make a decision either side."

Players have until July 11 to declare whether they will play or not.

No. 3 Dustin Johnson has said he intends to play, while No. 4 Rory McIlroy will not travel to Rio due to Zika concerns. Others skipping the Rio Games include Australian's Adam Scott (8) and Marc Leishman (39), South Africans Branden Grace (12), Louis Oosthuizen (18) and Charl Schwartzel, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (76), Ireland's Shane Lowry (25) and Fiji's Vijay Singh (119).

The top two qualifiers for Australia are currently Danny Lee (No. 45) and Scott Hend (75). Hend said he will be more than happy to represent his country when golf returns to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years.

"Everybody has their reasons for doing things and no one should criticize a person for what they want to do," Hend told the Australian website Queenslander Hend, via the New York Times, before Day's announcement.

"If you don't want to compete in the Olympics then you don't go. I may not be the best-ranked player from Australia, but if I am fortunate enough to qualify for the team, I'll go to Brazil and represent Australia the best way I can."

After Day's withdrawal, Australian team manager Ian Baker-Finch tweeted, "Next in line Scott Hend, Marcus Fraser and Matt Jones, great players..."

Fraser is six spots behind Hend in the world rankings, and Jones is another four spots back, making the competition for Australia's two spots a tight race over the next few weeks.

"If I am fortunate to be one of the two players who qualify it will be a great experience and something to one day tell the grandkids," Hend said. "So these next few weeks are very important to me as If I can stay ahead of the guys behind me, then I should be fine."

Shane Lowry of Ireland also pulled out Tuesday.

While three of the top 10 players in the world will not be in Rio, No. 3 Dustin Johnson said he intends to play, as have No. 5 Henrik Stenson and No. 6 Bubba Watson. No. 2 Jordan Spieth and No. 7 Rickie Fowler have not made final decisions.

The field of players for the Olympics will be finalized on July 11.

World No. 1 Jason Day announced he will not participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro due to concerns about the Zika virus.

"While it has always been a major goal to compete in the Olympics on behalf of my country, playing golf cannot take precedent over the safety of our family," Day said in a statement Tuesday. "I will not place them at risk."

Day and his wife, Ellie, have two small children, including seven-month-old daughter Lucy.

"I have always placed my family in front of everything else in my life," Day said. "Medical experts have confirmed that while perhaps slight, a decision to compete in Rio absolutely comes with health risks to me and my family.

Day joins several marquee players who will not participate when golf returns to the Olympics in August for the first time in 112 years. Fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy announced last week that he will not play for Northern Ireland and No. 8 Adam Scott will not play for Australia. With No. 39 Marc Leishman also withdrawing from consideration, the top two qualifiers for Australia are currently Danny Lee (No. 45) and Scott Hend (75).

Others skipping the Rio Games include South Africans Branden Grace (12), Louis Oosthuizen (18) and Charl Schwartzel, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (76) and Fiji's Vijay Singh (119).

Shane Lowry of Ireland also pulled out Tuesday.

While three of the top 10 players in the world will not be in Rio, No. 3 Dustin Johnson said he intends to play, as have No. 5 Henrik Stenson and No. 6 Bubba Watson. No. 2 Jordan Spieth and No. 7 Rickie Fowler have not made final decisions.

The field of players for the Olympics will be finalized on July 11.