that would probably be two and a half years ago when I

AKRON, Ohio -- Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama said Sunday that he was withdrawing from the Olympics because of the Zika virus. That makes him the seventh golfer to cite the mosquito-borne virus as his reason for sitting out golfs return to the Olympics after 112 years.Matsuyama, who won the Phoenix Open earlier this year in a playoff for his second PGA Tour victory, told Japanese reporters of his decision after he finished the Bridgestone Invitational. He later issued a statement through his management company.Although I am excited that golf is returning to the Olympics and I realize that my potential success would help grow the game in Japan, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot put myself or my team members health at risk, he said.That makes seven players from the top 25 in the world who have said they are not going to Rio. The others are Jason Day and Adam Scott of Australia, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and the South African trio of Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.Of the 11 golfers who said they would not go, seven specifically cited Zika.Brazil has been the hardest hit of the approximately 60 countries that have reported outbreaks of Zika, the mosquito-borne virus linked to severe birth defects and possible neurological problems in adults.I have been getting information from all the concerned parties as well as my doctors about the situation in Rio, but I cannot be 100 percent sure about my safety, and my teams safety, from the Zika virus, Matsuyama said. Additionally, my body has a tendency to react strongly to insect bites.He called the choice to not go to the Olympics heart-wrenching.His announcement capped a tough week for golf, which was most recently part of the Olympics in 1904. Day is the No. 1 player in the world and said Tuesday that he would not be going. Shane Lowry said Wednesday that he was too concerned about the Zika risk because he married in April and wants to start a family.Jordan Spieth said he remained undecided.Golf is assured of being part of the Tokyo Games, though the International Olympic Committee votes next year to determine if the sport will be part of the program beyond 2020.With one week remaining before qualifying ends through the world ranking, Japans two spots currently would go to Hideto Tanihara and Yuka Ikeda. Tanihara won on the Japan Golf Tour on Sunday and moved into the No. 2 spot among Japanese players even before Matsuyama withdrew.Each country is allowed two players until the 60-man field is set, with a maximum of four players, provided they are among the top 15 in the world. Bart Starr Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Ray Nitschke Jersey . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Dave-Robinson-Packers-Jersey/ .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Custom Green Bay Packers Jerseys . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Reggie White Jersey . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46.Charley Hull has set her sights on making her major breakthrough next year after finishing 2016 in style with her maiden LPGA Tour victory. Hull fired a flawless final-round 66 to capture the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship by two strokes on Sunday, a win which lifted her to fourth in the final Race to CME Globe standings. Charley Hull earned her first LPGA Tour title at the weekend The 20-year-old enjoyed a consistent year on the LPGA Tour, with five top-10 finishes and only three missed cuts in her 22 starts, and her win in Florida earned her $500,000 - the biggest payday of her career by a distance. Hull was just a shot behind world No 1 Lydia Ko at the ANA Inspiration, the opening major of the season on the womens circuit, while she also enjoyed top-20 finishes at the Womens PGA Championship and the British Open. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! But she now feels more confident of challenging for a first grand slam title next year following her impressive performance at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, where a more-relaxed approach to the game paid handsome rewards.Its been a long time coming, Hull told Sky Sports News HQ. Ive been knocking on the door this year and came second at the ANA Inspiration, but Ive had a good last couple of weeks, and to win one of the big ones at the end of the year was a lot of fun. Charley Hulls final round story on the way to winning her first LPGA Tour title I kind of switched off and wasnt really thinking about it too much to be honest.dddddddddddd I was thinking about random stuff at home and I felt really relaxed all the time.Asked if it was the best round of her career, Hull replied: I would say that would probably be two and a half years ago when I won my first Ladies European Tour event at the Lalla Meryem Cup. I shot nine under on the last day and then best Gwladys Nocera in a play-off. Hull was second in the opening major of the season, and she wants to go one better in 2017 On Sunday, I really didnt know what I had scored when I holed out at the last. I thought I had shot three under, and then I found out I was six under.This is a big win to end the year with, its nice to have that under my belt and I feel really confident for the majors next year. I always seem to play pretty decent in the majors, and its usually just one bad round I have over the four days. Live Ladies European Tour Golf November 23, 2016, 8:00am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Hopefully Ive ironed that out, and Ive had some really good scores over the last couple of weeks, so Im really looking forward to next year now.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4! Also See: Hull claims maiden LPGA win Golf on Sky Sports 4 Get Sky Sports Schedule ' ' '