Rory McIlroy's Epic Collapse in U.S. Open Draws Defense from Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm criticizes golf announcers for "underplaying" the difficulty of Rory McIlroy's missed putt on the 18th hole, which ultimately cost him the U.S. Open title in a stunning collapse.

Rory McIlroy's heartbreaking collapse at the U.S. Open has sparked a wave of criticism, with many pointing the finger at his inability to make crucial putts down the stretch. However, fellow golfer Jon Rahm has come to McIlroy's defense, placing blame on the golf announcers covering the tournament.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Rahm expressed his frustration with the commentary, stating that it "severely underplayed" the challenging conditions faced by McIlroy on the 18th hole. "One of the things that absolutely burned me, and I think was (NBC's) Smylie (Kaufman) who said it, he severely underplayed how difficult Rory's putt on 18 was," said Rahm.

Rory McIlroy's Epic Collapse in U.S. Open Draws Defense from Jon Rahm

Rahm, who did not participate in the U.S. Open due to an infection in his foot, explained that McIlroy's putt was far from routine. "When he said it's a left-center putt, if you hit that putt left-center and miss the hole, you're off the green because of how much slope there is," he said. "You could see Rory aiming at least a cup left from three feet. They severely underplayed how difficult that putt was. Severely."

While Rahm acknowledged the constraints of commentary, he believes the announcers should have provided a more accurate depiction of the situation. "I think that can happen a few times where, 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," he said. "But, when a commentator says it's a left-center putt from three feet away, a golf fan is going to expect it to fall 100 times out of 100."

Rory McIlroy's Epic Collapse in U.S. Open Draws Defense from Jon Rahm

McIlroy's missed putt on the 18th hole was just one in a series of unfortunate events that led to his collapse. He had suffered from a similar missed putt on the 16th hole, and his overall performance in the latter stages of the tournament left him visibly shaken.

Following his defeat, McIlroy announced that he would be taking a brief hiatus from golf to process the experience. "Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I've had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer," he wrote in a statement. "As I reflect on my week, I'll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the 2 missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day."

Rory McIlroy's Epic Collapse in U.S. Open Draws Defense from Jon Rahm

McIlroy's collapse highlights the immense pressure and challenges that golfers face in major tournaments. Jon Rahm's defense of his fellow competitor serves as a reminder that even the greatest players can be subjected to setbacks and that the sport is not always as straightforward as it may seem from the outside.