Rory McIlroy criticism aimed at Jon Rahm after brutal Olympics collapse

Jon Rahm’s Olympic dream ended in heartbreak as he squandered a four-shot lead with nine holes to play, missing out on a medal by two shots. The Spaniard’s collapse did not go unnoticed, with American TV analyst Brandel Chamblee delivering a scathing critique.

Chamblee described Rahm’s final-round failure as “one of the biggest chokes of the year,” drawing parallels to Rory McIlroy’s meltdown at the US Open. Leading by four shots after a front-nine score of 31, Rahm’s game fell apart on the closing stretch. He finished with an even-par 70, allowing world No.1 Scottie Scheffler to mount a stunning comeback and claim the gold.

Scheffler, six shots behind, fired four birdies in the last five holes to complete a flawless final round of 62. This edged him past Team GB’s Tommy Fleetwood by one shot, with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama finishing third, two shots back. Rahm’s impressive 15-under total at Le Golf National ultimately left him four strokes behind Scheffler’s winning score.

NBC Sports pundit Chamblee didn’t mince words when analyzing Rahm’s shocking performance. “That was just about the wildest back nine you could ever imagine, ever predict,” Chamblee stated. He highlighted the stark contrast between Rahm’s 39 and Scheffler’s 29 on the respective back nines, underscoring the dramatic shift in fortunes.

Chamblee concluded, “I’m gonna put that down as one of the biggest collapses, chokes of the year. Right up there with Rory McIlroy at the U.S. Open.” Rahm’s lead unraveled with errors between the 11th and 14th holes, finding only brief respite with a birdie on the 16th. Meanwhile, Scheffler’s consecutive birdies sealed Rahm’s fate.

Chamblee remarked, “Jon Rahm looked so solid the first three-and-a-half rounds, leading in fairways hit, driving distance, and greens in regulation. But the demon that has plagued him for the last year is that double cross. It showed up notably on the back nine in key instances, along with a few three-putts here and there. Losing a four-shot lead and not even medaling is tough.”

Despite the disappointment, Rahm remained optimistic, reflecting on the positives. “For about 97 percent of the week, it has been fantastic. The crowd has been great. The week has been great. The golf course is fantastic. There’s just a four-hole stretch where I wasn’t happy,” Rahm shared. “Besides that, it’s been a really good tournament. There’s still a lot to be proud of, but this is something that’s gonna sting for a while.”