Jon Rahm has an exclusive parking spot at Pinehurst. It’s at the back of the imposing clubhouse of the North Carolina resort. It’s only for a privileged few who have earned this preference with the sweat of their brow. To his right parks Matthew Fitzpatrick and to his left Bryson DeChambeau. It’s the parking of the most recent champions of the US Open. The spot for the courtesy car of the golfer from Barrika has been empty all day. Jon has not been seen at Pinehurst this Monday.
This does not mean that the news is bad, far from it. On the contrary. Rahm has been very upset, but the evolution in the last few hours has been quite positive. Today he was feeling much better, although he has decided to rest to keep the infection under control. Let’s remember that he got the wound between two toes of his left foot, a very complicated area, with a lot of friction and sweating. He withdrew after playing five holes in the second round of the LIV Golf of Houston this Saturday.
So much so that Rahm has decided that he will not play this Tuesday either, although he will be at Pinehurst. He will attend to the media from ten-thirty in the morning local time, six-thirty in the evening in mainland Spain. If he had been very ill, he would not even have come to the field and would have agreed with the USGA to postpone his appearance at least until Wednesday. The fact that he keeps it is good news.
It is clear that the infection has disrupted his plans. It is not the first Major in which Jon does not play any practice holes on Monday, but it is the first in which he will not recognize the field on Tuesday either. It’s a novelty, but things come as they come and there’s no choice but to adapt. At least, he has the consolation that he was here just a few days ago. He flew to Pinehurst from Arizona on Saturday and trained Sunday and Monday alongside Phil Mickelson. So, a good part of the work is done.
If the evolution continues to be positive, Rahm will try to play at least nine holes on Wednesday, but it should not be ruled out that he decides not to go out on the field to save himself completely for Thursday, when the good stuff begins. Meanwhile, his caddie Adam Hayes is doing all the usual work, taking references and planning the strategy of the week under Jon’s own guidelines. There have been many times when the Biscayan has said that he could play a course blindfolded, just with Adam’s indications.
In short, it is not the ideal preparation, that’s obvious, but there is no need to sound any alarm. According to Ten Golf, the evolution of the last few hours with the care and attention he is receiving has been really good.
