Rory McIlroy defended over humiliating missed putt in US Open collapse by Jon Rahm, who says NBC ‘severely underplayed’ difficulty of shot

Rory McIlroy’s missed putt on the 18th hole of the US Open was seen as a shocking mistake by golf fans and the media alike, but Jon Rahm has come to the Northern Irishman’s rescue after tucking away a potential fifth major win.

McIlroy led by two strokes with just five holes to go at Pinehurst, but made three bogeys as he missed two putts from a combined distance of eight feet.

And while the 35-year-old’s second miss allowed Bryson DeChambeau to pass him and win the tournament, Rahm believes NBC “seriously underestimated” how hard the shot was.

“One of the things that absolutely burned me, and I think it was that [NBC’s] Smylie [Kaufman] whoever said it seriously underestimated how difficult Rory’s putt on 18 was,” Rahm told reporters prior to LIV Golf’s Nashville tournament.

“When he said it’s a left-center putt, if you hit that left-center putt and miss the hole, you’re off the green because of the big slope. You could see that Rory was aiming at least a head to the left from a few feet away. They seriously underestimated how difficult that putt was. Serious.’

McIlroy came agonizingly close to winning his first major in a decade before his late collapse

Rahm himself did not play in the tournament due to a foot infection.

McIlroy came agonizingly close to winning his first major in a decade, but eventually collapsed and then revealed he would be taking a few weeks off from golf.

“Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my almost seventeen years as a professional golfer,” he said on X.

“First of all, I would like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that.

‘When I look back on my week, I will regret a number of things over the course of the tournament, especially the two missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But as I always try, I will look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives.

He added: ‘I’m going to take a few weeks off from competition to process everything and rebuild myself for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon.’

Rahm, who he saw speaking on June 11, withdrew from the tournament due to a foot infection

McIlroy announced last week that he is calling off his divorce from his wife Erica Stoll

The Scottish Open will be held on July 11, meaning McIlroy has almost a month until his next match.

McIlroy’s time away from golf also comes at a turbulent time in his personal life, as he recently filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll – before reversing his decision just before the US Open.

“Over the past few weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future as a family was together,” he said.

“Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and are looking forward to a new beginning.”