Rory McIlroy's missed putt on the 18th gap of the US Open was seen as a surprising mistake by each golf followers and the media, however Jon Rahm has defended the Northern Irishman after he missed out on a possible fifth main win.
McIlroy had a two-stroke lead with simply 5 holes remaining at Pinehurst however bogeyed on three events as he missed two putts from a mixed distance of seven ft.
And whereas the 35-year-old's second miss gave Bryson DeChambeau an opportunity to overhaul him and win the match, Rahm believes NBC “grossly underestimated” how highly effective the shot was.
'The one factor that actually burned me out, and I believe it was [NBC’s] Smiley [Kaufman] “Whoever stated that enormously underestimated how tough Rory’s putt on the 18th was,” Rahm stated. told reporters Earlier than Liv Golf's Nashville match.
'When he stated it was a left-center putt, in the event you hit that putt left-center and miss the opening, you're off the inexperienced as a result of there's a lot slope. You possibly can see Rory was aiming at the least a cup to the left from three ft. He enormously underestimated how tough that putt was. Very underestimated.'
Jon Rahm believes NBC 'enormously underestimated' the problem of McIlroy's missed putt on the 18th.
McIlroy got here agonizingly near profitable his first main in 10 years however fell brief
Rahm himself couldn’t play within the match as a consequence of a foot an infection.
McIlroy got here agonizingly near profitable his first main title in 10 years however ultimately collapsed and later revealed he would take just a few weeks off from golf.
“Yesterday was a really powerful day, probably the hardest day in my virtually 17 years as knowledgeable golfer,” he stated on X.
'Initially, I need to congratulate Bryson. He’s a worthy champion and precisely what skilled golf wants in the meanwhile. I believe we will all agree on that.
'Once I replicate on my week, I remorse just a few issues throughout the match, particularly the two missed putts on 16 and 18 on the ultimate day. However, as I at all times attempt to do, I concentrate on the constructive facets of the week which far outweigh the negatives.
He stated, 'I might be away from the sport for just a few weeks to grasp every part and put together myself for the Genesis Scottish Open and the Open at Royal Troon.'
Rahm, seen talking on June 11, was dominated out of the match as a consequence of a foot an infection
McIlroy introduced final week that he was calling off his divorce from his spouse, Erica Stoll.
The Scottish Open might be held on July 11, which means McIlroy has a couple of month till his subsequent competitors.
McIlroy's time away from golf comes throughout a tumultuous time in his private life, as he not too long ago filed for divorce from his spouse Erica Stoll – though he modified his thoughts simply earlier than the US Open.
“Over the previous few weeks, Erica and I’ve come to understand that our greatest future is to be collectively as a household,” he stated.
'Fortunately we have now resolved our variations and are wanting ahead to a contemporary begin.'
