Jon Rahm withdraws from LIV Golf Houston event due to foot injury

Jon Rahm withdrew from the LIV Golf Houston event Saturday, casting doubt on his availability for next week's U.S. Open.

During Friday's first round of the tournament, Rahm was limping and in pain after a swing. The LIV broadcast later reported that Rahm said he was dealing with a cut between two of his toes. Rahm continued to play, finishing the round with a 3-under-par 69.

Rahm's cut apparently developed into an infection, which caused his withdrawal midway through Saturday's second round. He played six holes before bowing out and remained at 3-under.

Louis Oosthuizen also withdrew from the LIV Golf Houston second round due to a lower back injury.

Rahm, 29, won the 2023 Masters and the 2021 U.S. Open, and is currently seventh in the Official World Golf Ranking. He finished 45th at this year's Masters and did not make the cut at the PGA Championship. The LIV Golf Houston event was his first since missing that cut and viewed as a good warm-up for next week's U.S. Open. He's still among the top-10 betting favorites for the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst in North Carolina, the third major of the year. Rahm is one of 12 LIV Golf players who will participate in the event.

He has not won a LIV Golf event since signing with the league last December, but has finished inside the top 10 in each of the seven events he's played. Two of those finishes were in third place.

Rahm is currently second in LIV Golf's individual points standings. He is the captain of his own team, Legion XIII, on the tour.