South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace is the first female golfer to drop out of the Olympic race because of the threat of the Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro. Pace, who is in the LPGA field this week in Portland, Ore., stands 38th in the Rolex Rankings.
“After weighing up all the options and discussing it with my family and team, I have decided that due to the health concerns surrounding the Zika virus, I will not be participating,” Pace wrote Wednesday in a statement.
“I hope that everyone can understand that this was a very difficult decision to come to, however, my health and my future family’s health must come first.