KAWAGOE - Comments from Rory McILROY (IRL) after he shot an 2-under-par 69 in the first round of the men's individual golf tournament at Kasumigaseki Country Club on Thursday.
\n\nRory McILROY (IRL)
\n\nOn backing USA gymnast Simone BILES' decision to put her mental health first:
\n\n\"I live in the United States and anything that came on the TV, NBC or commercials about the Olympics it was Simone BILES. I mean it was the Simone BILES Olympics, right. To have the weight of what ... 300 whatever million (people in the USA). So, the weight on her shoulders is massive.
\n\n\"Just as I thought Naomi OSAKA (JPN) was right to do what she did at the French Open and take that time off and get herself in the right place, I 100% agree with what Simone is doing as well.
\n\n\"You have to put yourself in the best position physically and mentally to be at your best and if you don't feel like you are at that, or you are in that position then you are going to have to make those decisions.
\n\n\"I'm certainly very impressed, especially with those two women to do what they did and put themselves first.\"
\n\nOn mental health in sport no longer being a taboo subject:
\n\n\"I'm glad that at least the conversation has started. There's been a few athletes that have really spoken, Michael PHELPS (USA), Kevin LOVE (USA), Naomi OSAKA, Simone BILES. The conversation, it's not taboo any more.
\n\n\"People can talk about it. Just as someone has a knee injury, or an elbow injury, if you don't feel right 100% mentally that's an injury too.\"
\n\nOn why sport has taken so long to open up about these issues:
\n\n\"I think in sports there's still this notion of powering through it, digging in and you're not a competitor unless you get through these things. I think that's probably part of it.
\n\n\"But then when you hear the most decorated Olympian ever talk about his struggles and then probably the greatest gymnast ever talk about her struggles, you know then it encourages more people who have felt that way to come out and share how they're feeling.\"
\n\nOn the steps he has taken to look after his mental health:
\n\n\"I certainly have a few more tools in my mental toolbox to maybe deal with things than I had a few years ago. Again, it's just trying to put yourself in an environment in which you can thrive. That's the bottom line.
\n\n\"Someone like Naomi OSAKA was trying to put herself in that environment in the French Open and I think the whole sports world was behind that decision. It obviously didn't play out the way she wanted it to, but it certainly started a great conversation.\"
\n\nOIS ln/wc
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