Jon Rahm Fired Up For Troon After Watching US Open In Bed Injured
Rahm was forced to pull out of the US Open due to a foot infection but is fit and ready to tackle Royal Troon this week
Jon Rahm has revealed he watched the last Major in bed and says he is relishing the chance to compete for the Open at Royal Troon.
Last year's Masters champion Rahm, a two-time Major winner, was forced to pull out of last month's US Open at short notice due a gruesome foot infection.
It saw the LIV golfer confined to bed after having the abscess treated as he convalesced alongside his pregnant wife but he is now back on his feet and preparing to tackle the Ayrshire links.
Rahm, aged 29, said: "It would be quite incredible to earn an Open Championship on this golf course in this tournament. It would be absolutely fantastic on top of all the many things that would make this week and this championship incredible. It's arguably my favorite week in golf."
Spaniard Rahm has enjoyed watching his compatriots lift the Euros and seeing Carlos Alcaraz win Wimbledon. Now he is determined to make the most of his week after being confined to bed during the previous Major at Pinehurst which he instead spent at home recuperating together with his pregnant wife Kelley.
He recalled: "Once I accepted the fact I couldn't play, I think it was quite enjoyable. Being bedridden because I couldn't get my foot dirty, I had to maintain it clean and disinfected and all those things. But I was able to spend time with Kelley because while she's on bedrest, I had to somewhat be on bedrest as well. So to keep her company was probably my favorite part."
Rahm's performances this year since joining LIV last December in a nine-figure switch have been underwhelming. He came tied 45th at the Masters in his title defence, missed the cut at the PGA Championship and then withdrew injured from the US Open with a foot abscess as he explained.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
He added: "The podiatrist cut part of the callus out, and the second he put a little bit of pressure, which still hurt a lot, and you could still see some wanting to come out. He's like: 'Jon, we have to do it. There's an abscess in there, and we have to see how much and how deep'. I'm like: 'oh, boy'.
"Basically he numbed my foot and grabbed the swabs they did the PCR test with, stuck the cotton part a little bit in, so it was deeper, turned it around and just jammed it in my foot.
"When I saw that go in, I said: 'OK, I'm not playing The Open'. It took all the infection out. Took another sample to see if I was taking the right antibiotics, and that's when we made the decision.
"Had the infection spread any more, it could have started going up my leg and created a bigger issue. We decided to take the week off as hard as it might have been.The next morning I knew I had made the right decision because the pain I was in after that was pretty severe. But it was clean and I went back home and watched the Open."
Rahm is yet to win in nine events on LIV but has finished in the top ten at every one. He believes he is making progress after changing the shaft in his driver following his missed cut in the PGA Championship.
He added: "Valhalla was almost the realisation that I needed to make a change, where I was making good swings, and the ball wasn't doing what I was expecting it to do.
"I changed it after that, and I've been more comfortable ever since. Being able to swing at the driver more freely and without having to think about technique so much has been quite nice."
James Nursey is a freelance contributor to Golf Monthly after spending over 20 years as a sports reporter in newspapers. During a 17-year career with the Daily Mirror, he covered mainly football but reported from The Open annually and also covered a Ryder Cup and three US Opens. He counts a pre-tournament exclusive with Justin Rose at Merion in 2013 as one of his most memorable as the Englishman went on to win his first Major and later repeated much of the interview in his winner’s speech. Now, after choosing to leave full-time work in newspapers, James, who is a keen single-figure player, is writing about golf more. His favourite track is the Old Course after attending St Andrews University but has since played mainly at Edgbaston, where he is on the honours board. He is an active member of the Association of Golf Writers and Press Golfing Society but his favourite round is playing the game with his children. James is currently playing: Driver: Ping G400 3 wood: Ping i20 Hybrid: Ping i20 Irons: Ping i500 4-SW Wedges: Ping Glide forged 50, 56 Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Ball: Titleist ProVI
-
Race To Dubai Prize Money Payout 2024
As well as the Harry Vardon Trophy, the Race to Dubai winner will earn $2m from a $6m pool, with the rest shared among the top 10 in the standings
By Mike Hall Published
-
Which Golfers Have The Most Top-10s In PGA Tour History?
Top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour are something to be savored, but a handful of players have achieved more than most
By Mike Hall Published
-
Report: PGA Tour's McIlroy And Scheffler To Face LIV Golf's DeChambeau And Koepka In TV Match
A report from Eamon Lynch at Golfweek states that the four stars are set to appear in a made-for-TV contest to be held in Las Vegas in mid-December
By Mike Hall Published
-
Big Names Missing The Presidents Cup
Who are the notable players to miss out on the US and International teams for the 2024 Presidents Cup?
By Elliott Heath Published
-
LIV Golf Announces Early Stages Of 2025 Schedule
The first four events of the 2025 LIV Golf League schedule have been unveiled
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Greg Norman Marks Three Years As LIV Golf CEO With Defiant Social Media Message
The LIV Golf CEO has highlighted the achievements of the circuit in the three years he has been at the helm
By Mike Hall Published
-
'Zero Truth' - Jon Rahm Claps Back At 'Deep Regret' LIV Comments
A veteran PGA Tour insider was recently quoted as saying that Rahm held "deep regret" over his move to LIV - but the Spaniard insisted this was completely false
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Sir Nick Faldo 'Delighted' Tyrrell Hatton 'Wants To Come Play A Proper Tournament' at British Masters
Sir Nick Faldo couldn't help but crack a joke about LIV Golf when reacting to Tyrrell Hatton playing in the British Masters
By Paul Higham Published
-
LIV Golf's Cameron Smith Adds Surprising Home Event To His Schedule For The First Time
LIV Golf's Cameron Smith has signed up to play in the NSW Open Golf Championship later this year - an event Greg Norman has won four times
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Why LIV Golfer Tyrrell Hatton Is Making His DP World Tour Return At The British Masters This Week
The Englishman will tee it up on the DP World Tour at The Belfry alongside the likes of Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated