Brandel Chamblee on Sunday delivered a harsh verdict on Jon Rahm’s failure to win Olympic gold, accusing the Spaniard of “choking” in Paris.
The controversial analyst claimed Rahm was guilty of one of the biggest slumps of 2024 and compared his final round to Rory McIlroy’s horror show at the end of the US Open.
Rahm, the co-leader from last night, had a four-stroke lead on Sunday after finishing five under par through the first nine holes.
But the LIV rebel then made four bogeys and a double bogey in the final round of his fourth round to finish four strokes behind Scottie Scheffler.
The world No. 1 was six strokes behind the leader at the turn but still managed to make half a dozen birdies – including four in the last five holes – to secure gold for the United States.
Jon Rahm failed to win Olympic gold on Sunday after collapsing late in the evening in Paris
Brandel Chamblee delivers a brutal verdict on the Spanish golfer’s performance
Scheffler finished one stroke ahead of Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood and afterwards Chamblee said: ‘Scottie Scheffler was six strokes behind, made the turn and wins gold – no play-offs.
‘(He) shoots 29, Jon Rahm shoots 39. I consider that one of the biggest failures (and) chokes of the year – probably as bad as Rory McIlroy coming at the end of the US Open.’
In June, it looked like McIlroy would end his decade-long wait for a fifth major, but he missed two short putts on the final three holes.
Rahm made four bogeys and a double bogey in the final straight of the fourth round on Sunday
His mistakes allowed Bryson DeChambeau to win at Pinehurst and on Sunday McIlroy finished in a tie for fifth place with Rahm – four strokes behind Scheffler.
“I feel like I’ve been the ‘Almost Man’ of golf for the last three years,” McIlroy admitted.
“I want to turn the tide, of course, and go from being the ‘Almost Man’ back to winning golf tournaments. It’s all well and good to say I’m close and close and close.
“Once I actually cross the threshold and turn these near misses and dire situations into victories, that’s what I need to do.”
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