Jon Rahm Survives Injury Scare Ahead Of US Open To Card Under-Par Round At LIV Golf Houston

Rahm was seen wincing at the par 3 seventh hole during the first round, but battled back to a three-under-par score at LIV Golf Houston

Jon Rahm drops his driver after a poor tee shot
(Image credit: Getty Images)

On Friday at LIV Golf Houston, it seemed that Jon Rahm was dealing with an injury scare just a week out from the US Open, the third men's Major of 2024.

Starting at the par 4 third, the two-time Major winner parred his first four holes before coverage turned to Rahm on the par 3 seventh. Playing the 163-yard hole, he struck a short-iron in and, on impact, was visibly in pain as he attempted to walk it off.

Although Rahm was reportedly receiving treatment on his foot before the round, it was then stated on the LIV Golf broadcast that the cause of the wincing and pain was due to a cut between his toes, with the injury not being overly significant.

Following the seventh hole, which he parred, Rahm then birdied the eighth, 10th, 12th and 13th, before a double bogey on the 18th hole, his 16th of the day, put him back to two-under-par.

Following the double bogey, he did finish par-birdie to fire a three-under 69 at the Golf Club of Houston, which put him into a share of 15th and four back of leaders Martin Kaymer, Adrian Meronk and Caleb Surratt.

Making his first start since missing the cut at the PGA Championship in May, Rahm is, currently, the only player on the LIV Golf roster to finish inside the top 10 at all seven events in 2024.

Sitting 15th after the first day at three-under-par, alongside 10 others, it's set to be a busy few weeks for some on the LIV Golf circuit, with a total of 12 LIV players heading to Pinehurst No.2 next week for the US Open. Becoming the first Spaniard to win the event in 2021, Rahm will then tee it up at LIV Golf Nashville the week after the US Open, before featuring at LIV Golf Andalucía in his home country of Spain, at Valderrama.

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x