Rory McIlroy has announced that he will represent Ireland at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The 25-year-old revealed his decision at a press conference at the Irish Open which gets underway this week.

"I was thinking about all the times I have played for Ireland as a boy and everything. For me it is the right decision to play for Ireland," he said.

Two years ago the two-time major winner told Sportsmail that he felt more British than Irish.

That had led to speculation that the Northern Irishman would choose to go to the Rio Games as a British citizen.

But now the current World No 6 has made his decision official ahead of the first Olympics to feature golf since 1904.