In front of thousands of spectators and multiple cameras gazing at a global audience, Jon Rahm couldn’t help but fall to the ground on Sunday when he learned that his six-shot lead at the Memorial Tournament meant nothing.
A COVID-19 diagnosis undermined his lead, one of the big rounds in tournament history (eight under, 64) and his chance at a sixth PGA Tour title.
If his immediate reaction in public was uncomfortable, it is best not to think about what state the world number 3 is in behind closed doors, as the true severity of his withdrawal will impress.
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THE WORLD NO. 3 THROUGH SIX STRIKES. THESE NEWS FOR THE 18th HIS TOURNAMENT FINISHED
First of all, Rahm won the same event last year for $ 1.674 million (AUD 2.16 million).
He won’t do anything this year if another million payday was practically secured.
But while loss of wealth and a PGA Tour title are the most immediate blows to Rahm, he can expect to feel the effects of his shock retreat in Muirfield Village for weeks, possibly years.
A massive kick in the bowels while already on the ground, Rahm must now be isolated until at least June 15, giving his US Open chances a devastating blow.
The next major of the year, held in Torrey Pines, begins June 17th.
Rahm will do nothing in Muirfield when another million payday is practically assuredSource: AFP
Rahm, who was playing in Ohio at the time of his diagnosis, now faces the prospect of making a late jump across the United States to San Diego for one of the four biggest events of the year in about 48 hours.
Rahm is only 26 and will likely play golf majors for decades, but that will still be a bitter pill.
The Spaniard is seen by some as the future greatness of the game – but such a prophecy can only really gain momentum with a big title.
This year’s US Open represented one of the, if not the best, chance of winning a major that Rahm’s ever had.
Rahm won his first PGA Tour title at the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines.
And he started this year’s US Open with flying colors: In 16 starts this season, Rahm has already achieved 10 top 10 placements, three more in the top 25, while he only missed the cut once.
He pounded on the door in the majors, finishing T7 and T5 in the Masters in November and April, followed by T8 in the PGA Championship last month.
Cream is in brilliant form.Source: AFP
At this year’s Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines, he was again among the top 10 and finished in 7th place.
Results aside, his play from tee to green is ranked third best of the tour with only Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau ranked higher.
The last piece of the puzzle for Rahm was the putter, but at the Memorial Tournament, where he flashed the entire field, he made great strides with the flat club.
Rahm just looked like one of the best golfers in the world who climaxed at the right time.
Then next to Muirfield’s 18th green, he was told he had COVID-19.
Now he’s falling out of favor for the US Open, where the winner will take home $ 2.25 million (AUD 2.9 million).
Again, realistically, Rahm couldn’t do anything while struggling just to make it to Torrey Pines’ first tee.
A Rahms quality player is likely to fight for a major seriously at some point, but as the waiting time increases, so does the uncertainty that he will one day make it.
