Jon Rahm criticizes Kaufman analysis on Rory McIlroy’s putt miss

Jon Rahm has expressed strong opinions regarding the assessment of Rory McIlroy’s missed putt on the 18th green at Pinehurst No.2, suggesting that NBC analyst Smylie Kaufman significantly underestimated its difficulty. As McIlroy’s putt veered past the right side of the hole, the golfing world watched in shock. The Northern Irishman had been in a prime position to break a decade-long streak of major disappointments, but his three bogeys in the final four holes led to a heart-wrenching loss.

The missed putt meant that Bryson DeChambeau, needing only a par on the last hole, secured victory. The LIV Golf star capitalized on the opportunity, delivering a remarkable up-and-down performance to clinch his win and thwart McIlroy’s attempt at a fifth major title.

Jon Rahm, who had to withdraw from the championship due to injury, was watching the event unfold from home. While he generally enjoyed the coverage, he took issue with how McIlroy’s final hole struggle was analyzed. Rahm, an experienced major winner himself, argued that the three-foot putt McIlroy missed was much more difficult than it appeared and felt it was unfairly criticized.

Speaking ahead of the LIV Nashville event, Rahm defended his Ryder Cup teammate and subtly criticized Kaufman for downplaying the challenge of the putt. Rahm noted, “One of the things that absolutely burned me, and I think it was Smylie who said it, he severely underplayed how difficult Rory’s putt on 18 was. When he said it’s a left-centre putt, if you hit that putt left-centre and miss the hole, you’re off the green because of how much slope there is. You could see Rory aiming at least a cup left from three feet. They severely underplayed how difficult that putt was. Severely.”

Kaufman, a former PGA Tour winner who transitioned to commentary after a short playing career, was the target of Rahm’s critique. Despite Kaufman’s professional background, Rahm suggested that without being on the course, it is difficult to fully grasp the complexity of such shots. “Unless you’ve been there on the golf course and you’re playing it or you’ve played it, it’s hard to truly explain how difficult the golf course can be,” Rahm added. “A lot of times they only have those five seconds to say something quickly, so I also don’t blame them.”

In addition to discussing McIlroy’s misfortune, Rahm provided an update on his injury, indicating he was preparing for a return to competition. “The wound is still there. I’m not going to show any graphic pictures, but it’s still there. It’s manageable now. I’m not going to really make it worse,” Rahm reported. He added that he was following a careful recovery plan to ensure proper healing and prevent future issues. “I feel ready to walk and hit it. I haven’t been able to do much. It doesn’t take much for me to feel ready to compete. Looking forward to it. Just happy that I’m here.”

Rahm is set to tee off alongside DeChambeau and Carlos Ortiz at 12:15 on Friday at The Grove in Nashville, providing him ample opportunity to discuss DeChambeau’s recent U.S. Open triumph.