Jon Rahm’s LIV playing partner had best reaction possible after injury setback

Jon Rahm received the backing of his LIV Golf playing partner Lucas Herbert on Saturday, after the Legion XIII captain was forced to withdraw from LIV Houston due to injury.

Rahm looked in discomfort during Friday’s opening round, especially at the par-three seventh, where he winced and limped away following his tee shot into the green. It was later reported that the Spaniard was nurturing a cut between his toes, and had received on-course treatment.

Despite the fitness issue, Rahm carded an impressive three-under-par 69 in the opening round, with his one and only blemish of the day coming on the par-four 18th where he made a frustrating double bogey six.

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He returned to the golf course 24 hours later for round two, but his return was cut short just six holes in. Having made six pars from six holes, the discomfort of the injury proved all too much for the former world No. 1, as he opted to call it quits and withdraw from the tournament.

The injury issue comes at an awkward time for Rahm, with the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 taking place in a matter of days. It remains unknown as to whether his withdrawal was a precaution the third major of the championship of the season around the corner.

Rahm is yet to announce whether he will withdraw from the U.S. Open which begins next Thursday, but if the reaction of his playing partner Herbert is anything to go by, it is expected the Spaniard will tee it up in North Carolina. As Rahm putted out on Saturday and informed his playing partners of his decision, Herbert was heard telling the Spaniard: “Go ——- win next week.”

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The former PGA Tour star is no stranger to winning on the U.S. Open stage, winning the first of his two majors at the event in 2021 at Torrey Pines. Rahm carded a superb four-under-par 67 on championship Sunday three years ago, finishing six-under for the week, one clear of runner-up Louis Oosthuizen.

Since making the move to LIV for 2024 though, the Spanish star has struggled to replicate this form on the major stage so far this season. The first flagship event of the campaign saw Rahm defend his Masters crown at Augusta National, but things did not go to plan for the 29-year-old.

Rahm finished his week in Georgia back in April at nine-over-par, finishing a whopping 20 shots behind eventual champion Scottie Scheffler in a tie for 45th. A similar pattern then followed for the LIV member at Valhalla for last month’s PGA Championship. Rahm missed the cut at a major for the first time in five years, after failing to book his weekend spot in Kentucky.