Unser Chat » ok him and Broad to a combined 494 wickets when the

CORK, Ireland -- After months of indecision over who to represent, Rory McIlroy announced Wednesday that he will play for Ireland -- not Britain -- at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The 25-year-old McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland, was eligible to play for either Ireland or Team GB when golf makes its return to the Olympics in Brazil for the first time since 1904. Having played all of his amateur golf under the auspices of the Dublin-based Golfing Union of Ireland, the two-time major winner opted to stay with Ireland for the Olympics. "I have been thinking about the decision a lot and remembered all the times I represented Ireland as an amateur," McIlroy said on the eve of the Irish Open in Cork. "I was always very proud to put on the Irish uniform and play as an amateur and as a boy, and I would be very proud to do it again." McIlroy has twice played in golfs World Cup for Ireland, both times alongside fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell. "Just because Im getting paid to play this great game now doesnt mean I should change (team)," McIlroy said. "So Im very happy with my decision. It means I can look forward to the Olympics in a couple of years time -- you know, if I qualify, obviously, for the team. "I just thought it was the right thing to do. It was the right time to let everyone know. Now Im really looking forward to Rio in 16." McIlroy announced his decision ahead of next months International Golf Federation meeting that will finalize the eligibility criteria for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. "Theres no point in delaying it and letting it linger any longer," he said. "Watching the World Cup in Brazil, thinking about Brazil in a couple of years time, it just sort of got me thinking, maybe I should just go ahead and get it out of the way." Still, McIlroy said, winning an Olympic medal would not match winning a major championship. "The majors in our sport are the biggest and best prizes in the game," he said. "But as hopefully golf grows in the Olympics and becomes, say, bigger in four or five games down the line, then it might become bigger." Citizens of Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, can hold both British and Irish citizenship. Most of the Protestant majority is British, most of its Catholic minority Irish. McIlroy, while raised a Catholic, grew up in the predominantly Protestant town of Holywood east of Belfast and once said he considered himself more British than Irish. His 2012 comments -- suggesting he might prefer to join the British team -- provoked strong ill feelings from Irish golf fans. McIlroy initially said he might skip Rio entirely to avoid alienating fans further. Two other top Northern Ireland golfers, Darren Clarke and McDowell, are Protestants who have identified with Ireland. Trent Alexander-Arnold Jersey .com) - One point guard will return, while another will sit when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit American Airlines Center to take on the Dallas Mavericks. Jesse Lingard Jersey . LOUIS -- The St. http://www.englandsoccerpro.com/Kyle-Walker-England-Jersey/ . -- Craig Anderson has quite a record against his former team, the Florida Panthers. Jamie Vardy England Jersey . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Raheem Sterling Jersey . -- Thirty years ago, the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime, a game that remains the highest scoring in NBA history.Chris Woakes took 3-39 as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 288 on day three of the third Test at Lords but three Nuwan Pradeep wickets helped the tourists restrict England to 109-4 overnight. Steven Finn, James Anderson and Stuart Broad took two wickets apiece on Saturday as the tourists added just 126 runs to their overnight 162-1. Englands James Vince looks back at his broken wickets after being bowled by Sri Lankas Nuwan Pradeep Kusal Perera (42) and Rangana Herath (31) offered some resistance before Andersons claimed the scalp of the former. That took him and Broad to a combined 494 wickets when they have opened the bowling together, above previous record holders Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis (493). Ian Ward, Michael Atherton and Mahela Jayawardene are in The Zone to discuss arguably Englands greatest ever opening-bowling partnership England started well but Compton (19) fell cheaply, before Nuwan Pradeep clean bowled Joe Root (four), James Vince (0) and Johhny Bairstow (32).ddddddddddddlex Hales (41 not out) and nightwatchman Steven Finn (six not out) helped England to a 237-run lead by the close of play.Earlier in the day, England captain Alastair Cook went off for an x-ray on his knee after being struck while fielding at silly mid-off.Click on the video above to watch the best of action from day three at Lords. Coverage of day four of the third Investec Test is live on Sky Sports 2 from 10.30am on Sunday. Also See: Over-by-over commentary Scorecard Sign in to watch Saturday Debate Podcast ' ' '