Jon Rahm has rubbished claims that he has struggled for form since making the move to LIV Golf, after becoming the breakaway league's biggest signing back in December 2023.
Rahm has announced himself as one of his generation's greatest players in recent years, winning two major championships, 10 DP World Tour crowns and 11 PGA Tour titles during his career. Late last year though, the Spaniard left the sport in shock after joining the LIV setup in a deal worth a reported £450 million.
Rahm is yet to win an individual title on the Saudi-backed circuit, but has finished in the top-10 in all seven of his completed tournaments - barring his withdrawal at LIV Houston last week.
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The Legion XIII captain has also featured in both major championships in 2024, but has yet to find his best form. His title defence at this year's Masters did not go to plan, after Rahm finished in a tie for 45th at Augusta National, 20 shots behind eventual champion Scottie Scheffler.
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He then missed his first cut on the major stage since 2019, after failing to make the weekend at last month's PGA Championship at Valhalla. After two underwhelming performances, Rahm will have been keen to bounce back at this week's U.S. Open, but has been forced to withdraw due to the injury sustained in Houston.
Prior to his withdrawal, Rahm had been on site at Pinehurst and addressed the media ahead of the tournament. Speaking on Tuesday, Rahm refuted claims that he was a man struggling for form, commenting: "Yeah, I'm in a happy place. It's not like I've been playing bad, even though a lot of you make it sound like I'm playing bad. I had two bad weeks...
Jon Rahm will miss the U.S. Open due to injury (Getty Images)'I've been top 10 and had a chance to win in most of the tournaments I've played, and then unfortunately Augusta and PGA wasn't my best showings. But yeah, I'm happy." Focusing on ending the second half of 2024 strongly, Rahm went on: "I mean, it's been a wonderful career so far.
"And yeah, it hasn't been the best first half of the year, but there's been many times where I haven't had a great start, but that doesn't mean you can't have a great finish." His decision to pull out surfaced just hours later, with the 2021 champion prioritising his future health over a start in North Carolina.
"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," he tweeted. "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 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!"
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