Rory McIlroy may carry Olympic flag if he picks Ireland

There will be four years of it, but the Olympic arm-twisting for the world's No. 1 golfer has officially started.

Rory McIlroy is expected to be one of the top players in golf at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. The question is what country's colors will he wearing.

McIlroy eligible to play for both Ireland and Great Britain and although he previously was leaning toward the latter, the former is making an early run.

Justin Doyle of The Telegraph is reporting that Irish Olympic officials are dangling the carrot of carrying the flag if he throw in with their camp.

"I will say to Rory that if he declares for Ireland, then he will automatically put himself in pole position to carry the Irish tricolour in to the Olympic stadium in Rio," said Pat Hickey, the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland. "What he has done on the world stage for Irish golf is absolutely astonishing. Personally, I would dearly love for him to represent Ireland."

Hickey said carrying the flag would be a win-win for Ireland and McIlroy.

"Can you just imagine what something like this would do for Rory McIlroy," Hickey said. "It would suddenly catapult him into the realms of being one of the instantly recognizable sporting faces on the planet. Because make no mistake about it, that's what carrying the flag does for people."