Jon Rahm savaged by analyst Brandel Chamblee after Spanish golfer missed out on Olympic medal following late collapse

Brandel Chamblee delivered a brutal verdict on Jon Rahm’s failure to win Olympic gold on Sunday, accusing the Spaniard of ‘choking’ in Paris.

The controversial analyst claimed Rahm was guilty of one of the biggest collapses of 2024, comparing his final round to Rory McIlroy’s late horror show at the US Open.

Rahm, the overnight co-leader, held a four-shot lead after going five-under-par through the opening nine holes on Sunday.

But the LIV rebel then hit four bogeys and a double bogey down the stretch of his fourth round to finish four shots behind Scottie Scheffler.

The world No 1 was six shots off the lead at the turn, only to shoot half a dozen birdies – including four in the final five holes – to secure gold for the United States.

Brandel Chamblee delivered a brutal verdict on the Spanish golfer’s performance

Scheffler finished one shot clear of Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood and afterwards Chamblee said: ‘Scottie Scheffler was six back making the turn and wins gold – without a playoff.

‘(He) shoots 29, Jon Rahm shoots 39. I’m going to put that down as one of the biggest collapses (and) chokes of the year – probably right up there with Rory McIlroy coming down the stretch at the US Open.’

Back in June, McIlroy looked set to end his decade-long wait for a fifth major, only to miss two short putts in the final three holes.

Rahm hit four bogeys and a double bogey down the stretch of Sunday’s fourth round

His errors allowed Bryson DeChambeau to triumph at Pinehurst and on Sunday, McIlroy finished in a tie for fifth alongside Rahm – four shots off Scheffler.

‘I feel like I’ve been golf’s “Nearly Man” for the last three years,’ McIlroy admitted. 

‘I obviously want that tide to turn and go from the “Nearly Man” to back to winning golf tournaments. It’s all well and good saying I’m close and close and close. 

‘Once I actually step through the threshold and turn these near misses and close calls into wins, that’s what I need to do.’