Jon Rahm calls out commentator over Rory McIlroy comments that 'absolutely burned me'

Jon Rahm has called out commentator Smylie Kaufman for his description of Rory McIlroy’s putt on the final hole of the US Open last month. The Northern Irishman missed a putt for par on Pinehurst’s 18th green as he finished one stroke behind eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau.

McIlroy went in search of an elusive fifth major at the US Open after failing to clinch one for 10 years.

And he was in the driving seat with five holes remaining as he led his American rival by two shots.

As the 37-year-old approached the ball to take what turned out to be his penultimate shot of the US Open, commentator Kaufman told viewers: “You just got to hammer it. And it needs to hit the back of the hole, go up and then go down.

“Not outside the hole. It’s a left-centre putt, but you can make it if you start it right in the middle, too.”

But Rahm, who missed the US Open with a foot injury, took exception at those comments as the shot was much more difficult than Kaufman had made out.

And the 29-year-old took aim at the commentator a few days later as he explained: “I thought from the times I had it on [the television] and I could hear, I thought [the broadcast] was okay.

“One of the things that absolutely burned me, and I think it was Smylie who said it, he severely underplayed how difficult Rory’s putt on 18 was. When he said it’s a left-centre putt, if you hit that putt left-centre 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.

“I think that can happen a few times where, unless you’ve been there on the golf course and you’re playing it or you’ve played it, it’s hard to truly explain how difficult the golf course can be. A lot of times they only have those five seconds to say something quickly, so I also don’t blame them. But besides that, I thought it was good.”

McIlroy took a few weeks off following his disappointment in North Carolina but is set to return to action at the Scottish Open next week, which will be played at The Renaissance Club.

Earlier this week, the course’s chiefs installed a plaque to honour McIlroy, who won the tournament last year after a breathtaking shot from 202 yards on the final hole set him up to putt and clinch victory. The veteran will then compete in The Open a week later.