Rahm's U.S. Open hot takes from home
Tour approves lifetime signature exemption for Tiger; KPMG's 10-year reinvention of LPGA Championship
Jon Rahm returns from U.S. Open WD to play this week in Houston (Charles Laberge/LIV Golf)
2021 champ’s review: ‘It was quite a show’
Jon Rahm had an interesting take on Rory McIlroy’s missed par putt at the 18th hole on Sunday that cost the Northern Irishman a chance at a playoff for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
Watching at home after having withdrawn from the tournament due to a foot infection, Rahm said the severity of the putt missed by McIlroy was much more difficult than was portrayed by the commentators.
“One of the things that absolutely burned me, and I think it was (NBC’s) Smylie (Kaufman) who said it, he severely underplayed how difficult Rory’s putt on 18 was,” Rahm said. “When he said it’s a left-center putt, if you hit that putt left-center and miss the hole, you’re off the green because of how much slope there is.
“You could see Rory aiming at least a cup left from 3 feet. They severely underplayed how difficult that putt was. Severely.
“I think that can happen a few times where unless you’ve been there on the golf course and you’re playing it or you’ve played it, it’s hard to truly explain how difficult the golf course can be, and a lot of times they only have those five seconds to say something quickly, so I also don’t blame them.”
McIlroy bogeyed three of the last four holes including a missed putt from 2½ feet at the 16th hole. The 18th-hole putt was just under 4 feet but far more severe, Rahm said.
Rahm, who said he is managing his foot issue and will play this week at the LIV Golf Nashville event, said he enjoyed getting to watch a golf tournament.
“I thought it was quite a show from the comfort of my home,” Rahm said. “It’s a very enjoyable tournament to watch. I haven’t gotten the chance to enjoy a major from start to finish like that and to get to see a lot of golf was really fun, and to see how everything unfolded.
“You never want to see great players make a mistake at the end, whether it was Bryson’s three-putt on 15 or Rory’s on 16.