Jon Rahm enters the U.S. Open with more questions than answers about his game

Just one year ago, Jon Rahm was widely considered the second-best golfer in the world and one of the top favorites to win the U.S. Open. Fast forward to today, and the Spaniard is entering the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 as more of an afterthought than a serious contender. 

It's been a rough 12 months for the two-time major champion, who hasn't won a tournament since the 2023 Masters. Rahm finished the PGA Tour season with a disappointing T18 finish in the FedEx Cup standings. He then jumped to LIV Golf a few months later, and he hasn't been the same player since. 

It's not as if Rahm's game has fallen apart since joining the rival golf league. The 29-year-old has finished T10 or better in seven of LIV's eight tournaments this season, but that's not good enough for his lofty standards. Remember, the field for LIV tournaments is around 55 players, so a top-10 finish on the Saudi-backed tour is equivalent to a top-28 finish in a full-field PGA Tour event. In a league that's produced winners such as Dean Burmester, Carlos Ortiz and 41-year-old Brendan Steele this season, Rahm hasn't been able to add his name to that list.

The lighter schedule and more relaxed competitive atmosphere have clearly affected Rahm's ability to prepare for major championships. He limped to a T45 finish at the Masters, his worst performance at Augusta National in eight tries. A month later, he missed the cut at the PGA Championship despite Valhalla Golf Club being a perfect fit for his game. 

As if it wasn't going poorly enough for Rahm, we can now seemingly add injury to the insult.