Pace becomes first women's golfer to opt out of Rio

Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa tees off on the fourth hole during the final round of the Dubai Ladies Masters European Tour at the Emirates golf club in Dubai December 17, 2011. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

(Reuters) - South African Lee-Anne Pace, citing Zika concerns, became the first women's golfer to withdraw from the 2016 Rio Olympics on Wednesday, joining a growing exodus on the men's side that includes the world's top-ranked player.

Pace, a nine-times winner on the Ladies European Tour who is ranked 38th in the world, said she was eager to represent South Africa at the Aug 5-21 Olympics but felt Zika was too big a risk to take.