Jon Rahm has spoken out following his surprising early exit from the 2026 U.S. Open, admitting that a disastrous second round ultimately cost him the chance to compete for the championship at Shinnecock Hills.
The LIV Golf star arrived at the year’s third major as one of the pre-tournament favorites after an impressive season that included two LIV Golf victories and a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship. However, despite opening with a promising four-under-par 68, Rahm’s tournament quickly unraveled on Friday.
The Spaniard carded a disappointing 78 in the second round to finish six-over-par for the championship, missing the cut and ending his week far earlier than expected.
Speaking after his exit, Rahm expressed his frustration but acknowledged that he simply failed to execute when it mattered most.
“It’s disappointing because I felt like I was in a great position after the first round,” Rahm said. “I played some really good golf on Thursday, but unfortunately I couldn’t maintain that momentum.”
Rahm’s struggles began on the back nine, where a costly stretch saw him play five holes in six-over-par. The mistakes quickly erased any hopes of remaining near the top of the leaderboard and left him fighting just to survive the cut.
“When you’re playing a course like Shinnecock Hills, small mistakes can become big numbers very quickly,” Rahm explained. “I put myself in difficult spots and wasn’t able to recover the way I needed to.”
The result comes as a major surprise given Rahm’s strong recent form. Many analysts viewed the two-time major champion as one of the players best equipped to handle the demanding conditions presented by Shinnecock.
Instead, he joins a growing list of elite players sent home early by one of golf’s toughest venues.
Despite the disappointment, Rahm refused to make excuses for his performance.
“The course was difficult for everybody, but that’s what the U.S. Open is supposed to be,” he said. “The players who are playing this weekend earned it.”
Rahm also remained optimistic about the remainder of his season, pointing to the quality golf he displayed during the opening round as evidence that his game remains in excellent shape.
“One bad day doesn’t change the work that’s been done,” Rahm added. “Obviously this hurts because I had high expectations, but I’ll take the positives, learn from it and move forward.”
The early exit marks one of the biggest surprises of the championship, particularly given Rahm’s status as one of the world’s top players and his recent success in major tournaments.
Still, the Spaniard remains confident that better results are ahead.
“There are plenty of tournaments left this season,” Rahm said. “I’ll keep working, keep improving and be ready for the next challenge.”
For now, however, Rahm leaves Shinnecock Hills with a sense of frustration after a tournament that began with so much promise but ended with one of the most unexpected exits of the week.