Is Jon Rahm playing in 2024 U.S. Open? Latest news, injury updates as golfer deals with foot infection | Sporting News Canada

Jon Rahm is one of 13 LIV Golfers in the field for the 2024 U.S. Open. And under normal circumstances, he would be among those with the best chance to win the event.

But the 29-year-old golfer is dealing with an injury that could keep him off the course this weekend.

Rahm is dealing with a cut on his left foot that got infected, which forced him to withdraw from last week’s LIV Golf event in Houston. That has put his availability for golf’s third major of 2024 into question as well.

Here’s what to know about Rahm’s status ahead of the U.S. Open and what he has said about his ailing foot.

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Is Jon Rahm playing in the U.S. Open?

Rahm wouldn’t commit to playing in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst during his Tuesday news conference.

“As to right now [playing] this week, I don’t know,” he told reporters when asked about his status, per ESPN.

Rahm remains hopeful about his chances to get on the course. But his ability to do so depends on whether his injured foot can heal enough before he is set to tee off at 1:34 p.m. ET Thursday.

Rahm is working hard to expedite his recovery. The LIV Golf star wore a golf shoe on his right foot while wearing a flip-flop on his injured left foot at the course Tuesday. His getup came complete with a toe separator, and the goal of it was to keep his foot dry and allow it to heal faster.

“I can only do what I can do,” Rahm said when asked about his methods and recovery, per ESPN. “The human body can only work so fast.”

What is Jon Rahm’s injury?

Rahm is dealing with a cut on his foot that became infected. The cut is between his left pinkie toe and the fourth toe on his left foot, and he isn’t sure how it occurred.

Rahm described his banged-up foot as “a concern” as he attempts to play the U.S. Open. His status for the event will likely be monitored on a day-to-day basis.

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Jon Rahm injury update

Rahm told reporters the infection is the most worrisome part of his foot problem. That is nearly gone, but his recovery has come with some other obstacles.

“The infection is now controlled, but there’s still swelling and there’s still pain,” Rahm said.

Any lingering swelling and pain could keep him off the course, considering how important the lower body is to any golf swing. Pinehurst is also playing 7,540 yards — which converts to 4.28 miles — and golfers tend to add from 47% to 100% of the course’s yardage to their walking total, meaning Rahm may have to walk 6.29 miles or more per round.

As such, Rahm would face a lot of steps to compete at the U.S. Open — literally.

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Why did Jon Rahm withdraw from LIV Golf Houston?

Rahm’s foot injury caused him to withdraw from LIV Golf Houston during the event’s second round.

He originally thought he would be able to play after taking a numbing shot to the rea before the round.

“It was supposed to last the whole round, and by my second hole I was in pain already,” Rahm said.

The Spaniard further detailed that he could have tried to finish the round and event to avoid withdrawing. He simply thought trying to heal was the better course of action.

“Could I have dragged myself out there and posted some kind of a score? Yeah.” Rahm said of his withdrawal. “But it was getting to a point where I wasn’t making the swings I wanted to make, and I could have hurt other parts of my swing just because of the pain.”

Now Rahm will hope to be as close to 100% as possible before he’s scheduled to tee off Thursday.