PINEHURST, N.C. — Jon Rahm announced Tuesday he will withdraw from this week’s U.S. Open, which begins with the first round on Thursday, because of a foot infection.
Rahm was forced to withdraw from the LIV golf tournament in Houston after six holes of the second round on Saturday because of a foot infection.
“After consulting with many doctors and my team, I have decided it is in the best interest of my long-term health to withdraw from the U.S. Open Championship this week,” Rahm wrote on X. “To say I am disappointed is an understatement! I wish all the best to my peers and thank you to the USGA staff, volunteers and Pinehurst community for hosting and putting on what is sure to be a fantastic championship! I look forward to returning soon!”
On Tuesday before deciding to withdraw, Rahm appeared at his pre-tournament press conference in Pinehurst wearing a flip-flop on his left foot and a sneaker on his right.
“Yes, I’m worried,” Rahm admitted. “It’s getting better, but it’s still painful for sure.”
When asked what the problem was specifically, Rahm replied, “I guess the closest word I can think of is skin damage, so we’re trying to determine what it is. It’s a little bit lower between my pinky and my second finger.”
“I don’t know how or what happened, but it got infected. The pain was terrible. On the morning of my round on Saturday, I was given an injection to numb the area. It was supposed to last the whole round, but by the second hole I was already in pain.
“My concern was an infection. The infection is under control now but the swelling and pain are still there. I came here in shoes and flip flops to keep the area dry and to try to heal as quickly as possible. But there’s only one thing I can do – the human body can’t function that fast.”
Rahm has not won since signing with LIV for a reported $300 million and performed poorly in the first two major championships this year, finishing tied for 47th at the Masters and missing the cut at last month’s PGA Tour at Valhalla.
“Could I have pushed myself there and gotten some kind of score? Yeah I could have,” Rahm said of Saturday’s withdrawal. “But I just got to the point where I wasn’t swinging the way I wanted to and maybe the pain was hurting other parts of my swing. At this point in the week, I don’t know.”
Rahm was ranked No. 2 in the world when he joined LIV but is now ranked No. 8.
He was scheduled to play Thursday with Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama.
