Jon Rahm’s U.S. Open Presence Gets Concerning Update, Spain’s Olympics Dreams Also Under Jeopardy

The 2024 season has not been as welcoming to Jon Rahm as last year. Last fall, the 2-time major champion decided to jump ships and join the breakaway circuit for a hefty payday. Since then, Rahm’s gameplay has taken a hit for the worse. The 2023 Masters winners settled for T45 at Augusta National.

And badly enough, Rahm also missed the cut at Valhalla as he struggled to put up a good score. The two majors have been a flop for the Spaniard and as the third major inches closer, his struggles have just doubled, as a struggling Rahm can be seen on Golf Club at Houston’s greens.

Jon Rahm makes an early exit from LIV Golf Houston

Jon Rahm has withdrawn from LIV Golf Houston after playing six holes on the second day. On Friday, the Spaniard was seen wincing after taking his shot at the par-3 7th hole. The Golf Week reported that Rahm probably has sustained an injury. The unforeseen severity of the injury ultimately forced the two-time Major winner to withdraw from the event.

Per LIV Golf, which further shared details about the injury, the Spaniard withdrew from the Houston event due to an infection in his left foot. The injury has not only foiled Rahm’s present appearance at the eighth event on the LIV Golf calendar but also casts a weary shadow on his plans for the coming U.S. Open, which is just four days away. Even though the injury adds to the possibility of Rahm’s potential withdrawal from the third major of this season, the Spanish national is still going to tee off at Pinehurst.

Additionally, the injury might also end up jeopardizing Rahm’s presence at the Summer Olympics in Paris. The 2-time major winner missed the 2020 (2021) Olympics after being tested positive for COVID-19. Being the highest-ranked Spaniard in the world, Rahm, at 7th on OWGR, might once again miss the opportunity to represent his country if the infection persists.

Since joining the disruptive league in December 2023, Rahm’s performance at the international level has seen a significant dip. Especially when looking at the 29-year-old’s performance at the last two majors, but how is the 2022 Masters champion faring at LIV Golf events?

Jon Rahm’s performance on LIV Golf in 2024 so far

The Spaniard made his first appearance on the LIV Golf greens at LIV Golf in Mayakoba and since then, he has been a top performer on the breakaway circuit. Starting his LIV Golf journey with a T3 finish in Mayakoba, Jon Rahm has been able to secure a spot among the top 10 in every LIV Golf event since then. He came very close to achieving his maiden victory on the breakaway circuit at LIV Adelaide with a T3 finish.

Rahm has taken second place in LIV Golf’s 2024 standings, following Joaquin Niemann. On one side, Rahm’s game seems to flourish on the PIF-funded circuit, on the other, his performance trajectory at the majors has seen a downward trend. The former world no. 1 was the third-ranked player when he signed with LIV.

Now, eight months after his defection, Rahm’s rank has fallen to 7th in men’s golf as no OWGR points are given to the Saudi-backed circuit. If Rahm does not play even the U.S. Open or finishes poorly, his rank will take another hit. The 2-time major winner may follow a similar path to other LIV Golf pros, as they have dropped out of the highest ranks in the world too.

What will become of Jon Rahm’s performance in the upcoming days with the injury lingering? It remains to be seen.