In the men’s individual golf competition at the Olympics in Paris, Scottie Scheffler emerged victorious, but Jon Rahm expressed his “suffering” after saying he had failed his nation.
It was inevitable that Rahm and Spain would win the gold medal as he was ahead in the fourth and final round in Paris. Against all odds, though, he finished empty-handed after a terrible back nine cost him the lead and a spot in fifth.
Six strokes ahead of Scheffler, who took home the gold, the Spaniard had a four-stroke lead when he left the tenth green. Speaking to reporters, Rahm appeared upset and remarked, “I don’t remember the last time I played a tournament and I felt like this.
“It hurts a lot more than I would have liked to, not only do I feel like I let myself down, but I just can’t get it done for the entire country of Spain.” Rahm’s efforts from the preceding three and a half rounds were undone by four bogeys and one double bogey in the final eight holes.
“I’ve gotten asked where this tournament would rank in my opinion or what I would think it would feel like to win,” Rahm said in response to a question about his emotions. “I think by losing today, I’m getting a much deeper appreciation of what this tournament means to me than if I had won any medal, right?” Rahm said.
“I’m beginning to realise just how important it was. It hurts a lot to not finish this one because I’ve had the honour of representing Spain in countless tournaments.”
Rahm threw his putter on the fifteenth green in frustration during the back nine.
Given that there is no cash prize for earning an Olympic gold medal, some fans wondered what Rahm would be motivated to do before the competition. Although several fans were taken aback by Rahm’s announcement in December 2023 that he was leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf, he has always maintained that he plays golf for pride.
Rahm is still a major supporter of the Ryder Cup, and based on his response during the Olympics, winning a gold medal would have meant a great deal to him. Rahm responded, “100%,” when asked if the Olympics meant a lot to him despite the lack of monetary compensation.
“We don’t make any money at two of the most significant weeks of my career. That’s something I’ve said a million times, and I’ll say it again because this one and the Ryder Cup are on the line.
“It’s not the same as the Ryder Cup. It’s not the same. It’s also not a major. However, it seems like almost the highest honour for representing your
nation. And indeed, it is what makes it so unique.
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