Former ASU Golfer Jon Rahm Fails to Secure Medal at Paris 2024 Olympics After Dramatic Final Day Collapse
Former ASU Golfer Jon Rahm Fails to Secure Medal at Paris 2024 Olympics After Dramatic Final Day Collapse
As the Paris 2024 Olympics drew to a close, all eyes were on Jon Rahm, the former Arizona State University (ASU) golfer who had entered the final day of the men’s golf tournament as the frontrunner for gold. Rahm, who had performed exceptionally throughout the earlier rounds, seemed poised to claim his first Olympic medal. However, the final day at Le Golf National would turn into a dramatic and disappointing chapter in his career.
Rahm began the final round with a commanding four-shot lead, having delivered a stellar performance on the front nine, marked by a remarkable score of 31. The Spanish golfer appeared on track to fulfill his potential and secure a historic victory for Spain. His performance suggested a golden outcome was within reach.
However, the narrative took a sharp turn on the back nine. Rahm’s once-imposing lead began to evaporate as he faced a series of uncharacteristic mishaps. His struggles started at the par-3 11th hole. Despite sinking a 30-foot birdie putt, Rahm’s ball was left only 3-4 feet from the hole. Unfortunately, his subsequent attempt to complete the hole resulted in his first bogey of the day as the ball rimmed out.
The problems continued to mount as Rahm encountered difficulties at the 12th hole. A poor shot landed him in a bunker, and his efforts to recover from this setback were unsuccessful, resulting in a missed par from 15 feet away. The situation deteriorated further at the par-5 14th, where Rahm suffered a double bogey. This was a stark contrast to his earlier rounds in the tournament, where he had showcased his prowess with an eagle and two birdies over three previous rounds.
The sequence of errors did not end there. Rahm also missed a crucial 10-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole and failed to convert an 8-foot par attempt on the 17th. The cumulative impact of these mistakes was significant, leading to a disheartening back-nine score of 39. This sharp decline saw Rahm drop from his leading position to a tie for fifth place. He ended the tournament with a score of 70, four shots behind the eventual winner, American golfer Scottie Scheffler, who set an Olympic record with an astonishing final-round score of 62. Rahm also fell behind bronze medalist Hideki Matsuyama from Japan, who finished just two shots ahead.
The outcome was a significant letdown for Rahm, whose earlier form had suggested that a gold medal was within his grasp. The dramatic fall from a commanding lead to a disappointing fifth place raised numerous questions about what had gone wrong on the final day.
The magnitude of Rahm’s collapse did not go unnoticed by the golfing community. Brandel Chamblee, analyst for Golf Channel’s “Golf Central,” did not mince words when assessing Rahm’s performance. “I’m gonna put that down as one of the biggest collapses, chokes of the year,” Chamblee commented, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Looking ahead, there remains the possibility that Rahm might choose to continue his Olympic career despite this setback. If he decides against retiring from Olympic golf, there could be an opportunity for him to return and compete in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, potentially using this experience as motivation to come back stronger.
The Paris 2024 Olympics provided a dramatic and poignant chapter in Jon Rahm’s career, illustrating both the high stakes and the unpredictability of competitive golf on the world stage.
