Just hours after informing the media that he was struggling with an infection in his foot but that he was hoping to soldier on and compete at Pinehurst, Jon Rahm announced that he was withdrawing from the U.S. Open.
The 2021 champion announced the decision in both English and Spanish on his ‘X’ account, citing his huge disappointment but saying that he believed it was the best decision. The Legion XIII team captain had withdrawn from LIV Houston midway through his second round last week, but it is clear that the issue hadn’t cleared sufficiently to allow him to compete at an acceptable level in North Carolina this week.
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
Rahm’s misfortune works to the benefit of Jackson Suber, a 24-year-old from Tampa Florida who plies his trade on the Korn Ferry Tour and was the first tournament alternate after narrowly missing out in the qualifier held at Woodmont Country Club.
Rahm had entered the press area at the 124th U.S. Open wearing a flip-flop on his left foot and a traditional golf shoe on his right, and unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for his health condition to be the main topic of conversation.
“Oh, it’s a concern,” he had said. “It’s doing better. It’s doing better. But definitely still in pain.”
“Anytime I can tee it up, I feel like I have a good chance,” he went on to add, but later told Spanish golf media site Ten Golf that, “If it reaches a point that I don’t know if I can win, I don’t know if it’s worth it to go out and compete.”
And it’s become clear that he didn’t feel that he would be able to give it his best shot this week.
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