World number one Rory McIlroy has revealed he may not play in the next Olympics. The 23-year-old from Holywood would be eligible for selection by either Britain or Ireland at the 2016 Games in Rio.

However, in a BBC documentary, he said he may opt out of the Games because he does not want to offend anyone. McIlroy said he was considering the options of playing for Britain or Ireland or not playing at all.

“I just think being from where we’re from, we’re placed in a very difficult position,” he said.

“I feel Northern Irish and obviously being from Northern Ireland you have a connection to Ireland and a connection to the UK.

“If I could and there was a Northern Irish team I’d play for Northern Ireland.

“Play for one side or the other – or not play at all because I may upset too many people . . . Those are my three options I’m considering very carefully.”

At the moment he has not made a definite decision but has admitted he regrets the Olympic furore of last year when a newspaper claimed he would prefer to play for Team GB in Brazil.

“It was a moment, I don’t want to say of weakness, but a moment of, I guess, frustration with it all,” the Co Down man said.

“People tune in to watch me play on TV and feel like they are connected to me in some way.

“I don’t want to repay them for their support with something they don’t want me to do.”

In the documentary, McIlroy’s tennis star girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, also gives a unique insight into the couple’s relationship.

“It’s good that we both have our own separate careers,” she said.“People watch him play and win all these tournaments, but he hasn’t changed a bit,” added Wozniacki.

McIlroy also explained the Ryder Cup drama when he almost missed his tee time for the match with America’s Keegan Bradley.

“I have never been as worried, as nervous or as panicked going to the golf course,” he said.