Jon Rahm blames announcers for Rory McIlroy critics after they 'severely underplayed' putt difficulty

Rory McIlroy was on track to win the U.S. Open but collapsed and ultimately came up short after Bryson DeChambeau took advantage and slid in with the victory. Colin Cowherd reacts to DeChambeau's big win.

There has been a wave of critics who believe Rory McIlroy just had to hit those putts down the stretch of his epic collapse at the U.S. Open this past week. 

But Jon Rahm, the LIV Golf star, came to McIlroy’s defense and pointed blame at the golf announcers calling the tournament, who he believes "severely underplayed" the difficulty McIlroy faced on his tournament-losing 18th hole putt. 

Rahm spoke to Sports Illustrated where he said bluntly the announcers did not help matters. 

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Jon Rahm of Spain and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shake hands on the 18th green following their round on Day One of the DP World Tour Championship on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 16, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

"One of the things that absolutely burned me, and I think was (NBC’s) Smylie (Kaufman) who said it, he severely underplayed how difficult Rory’s putt on 18 was," Rahm, who didn’t participate in the U.S. Open due to an infection in his foot. 

"When he said it’s a left-center putt, if you hit that putt left-center and miss the hole, you’re off the green because of how much slope there is. You could see Rory aiming at least a cup left from three feet. They severely underplayed how difficult that putt was. Severely."

At the same time, though, Rahm knew that the commentary on the course couldn’t have been too detailed considering they weren’t playing the course. 

TIGER WOODS RECEIVES PGA TOUR EXEMPTION FOR SIGNATURE