Jon Rahm withdraws injured from US Open

Jon Rahm is OUT of the US Open.

The 2021 champion has failed to recover from the foot infection that forced him to withdraw from the second round of LIV Golf Houston last weekend and, as a result, will play no part at Pinehurst this week.

Rahm confirmed the news in a brief statement on social media this evening.

“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,” said the Spaniard.

“To say I’m disappointed is a massive understatement.

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“I wish all my peers the best of luck and want to thank all of the USGA staff, volunteers and community of Pinehurst for hosting and putting on what I’m sure will be an amazing championship. Hopefully I’ll be back in action sooner than later.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rahm appeared for his pre tournament press conference wearing a flip-flop on the affected foot and told reporters that, whilst the injury was improving, he was still in a lot of pain and was unsure if he would be able to play.

The cause of the injury, he added, remains a total mystery.

“We’ve been trying to figure it out because I think that the closest term would be a lesion on the skin,” said Rahm.

“If I were to show you, it’s a little low in between my pinky toe and the next toe.

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“I don’t know how or what happened, but it got infected. The pain was high. On Saturday morning, I did get a shot to numb the area. It was supposed to last the whole round,  but by my second hole I was in pain already.”

He added: ‘The infection was the worrisome part. The infection is now controlled, but there’s still swelling and there’s still pain.

“There’s a reason I walked out here in a shoe and a flip-flop, trying to keep the area dry and trying to get that to heal as soon as possible.

“But I can only do what I can do. The human body can only work so fast.”

Unfortunately for Rahm and his legion of supporters, not fast enough.

The 2023 Masters champion’s place in the field has been taken by 24-year-old Jackson Suber, the first alternate from the Rockville final qualifier.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor