Big news in Pinehurst. It’s true that there was some suspicion, but such a quick outcome was not expected. Jon Rahm announced this Tuesday at a quarter to five in the afternoon, local time in North Carolina, six hours later in Spain, that he will not compete in the US Open that starts this Thursday. The golfer from Barrika was a serious doubt for the tournament due to an unknown infection in his left foot, between the fourth toe and the little one, right in the area where all the weight is loaded in the golf swing at the end of the stroke. Not even Rahm himself could say how the wound had occurred, probably the origin is a blister, but it is not known for sure. The Biscayan player has been treating himself, has consulted several doctors and finally has decided not to play the tournament. He has not even waited the slightly less than 48 hours that were left for the start of the action.
Rahm announced his withdrawal from the US Open through an official statement on social networks. “After consulting with several doctors and my team, I have decided that the best for my long-term health is to withdraw from this week’s US Open Championship. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I wish all the participants the best of luck. I want to thank all the staff of the USGA, the volunteers and the Pinehurst community for organising what I am sure will be an incredible championship. I hope to return to action as soon as possible”, he posted.
After consulting with numerous doctors and my team, I have decided it is best for my long term health, to withdraw from this weeks US Open Championship. To say I’m disappointed is a massive understatement! I wish all my peers the best of luck and want to thank all of the USGA…
— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmOfficial) June 11, 2024
This Tuesday, during his visit to the resort that hosts the tournament, Rahm was already somewhat pessimistic before the Spanish media displaced to Pinehurst, among them Ten Golf. “If I don’t think I can win, I don’t know if it’s worth competing”, said the one from Barrika. But he left open a possibility, with the idea of consulting more specialists about his injury in the afternoon. He wanted to find a way to speed up recovery and, above all, to make sure that this ailment was not going to lead to a bigger problem due to compensations in the swing. In the end, there was no white smoke. Quite the contrary. It is strange that he did not wait until the last minute to make the decision to withdraw, but obviously they must have painted a very black picture for him.
Rahm now has a very busy tournament schedule ahead of him. The next appointment is the LIV Golf in Nashville, a circuit that let’s not forget he receives a hefty contract. Already in July he has the LIV tournament in Valderrama, the Open Championship, another LIV tournament in England and the Olympics. It is the stretch of the season with the most tournaments in the shortest time. Be that as it may, a blow for the Spaniard and a cold shower for our golf. It is the first Major that Rahm misses since his debut at the US Open in Oakmont in 2016 still being an amateur.
Without Jon among the participants, the Spanish representation in this 124th edition of the major of the USGA is in the hands of Sergio García, David Puig and Eugenio López Chacarra, who will try to achieve the most difficult feat: to make the figure of the champion from Barrika forgotten in a tournament of the level of this US Open Championship.
