In a turn of events more disappointing than finding out the clubhouse ran out of your favorite beer, Jon Rahm has announced his withdrawal from the 2024 US Open due to a nagging foot infection. This infection, lodged between his pinky toe and the one next to it on his left foot, has thrown a wrench into his golf plans and potentially any ambitions he had of modeling summer sandals right off the golf course runway.

The infection reared its ugly head even before the US Open, forcing Rahm to withdraw from LIV Golf’s event in Houston due to unbearable pain. Evidently, the universe decided that Rahm's left foot needed an emergency vacation, preferably somewhere it could be nursed back to health without the added stress of contending for a major golfing title.

Rahm broke the hearts of golf fans everywhere by announcing his withdrawal through a social media post, stating that prioritizing his long-term health was paramount. “Best for my long-term health,” he wrote, presumably while glaring at his left foot like it just confessed to being a Packers fan in a room full of Bears supporters.

To add another layer of the melodrama, Rahm was spotted arriving at Pinehurst wearing a flip-flop on his injured foot, sparking a new trend in PGA fashion items. Unfortunately, flip-flops are not yet considered performance-enhancing attire on the golf course. The infection had been managed with antibiotics, though swelling and pain persisted, making the idea of playing akin to walking on a bed of nails — not advisable if you are someone who requires stable footing for precision swings.

Despite the obvious setback, Rahm showed his sportsmanship by expressing his disappointment at having to withdraw. He also wished his competitors the best of luck, leaving us to wonder if his left foot was sulking in a corner, bitter about missing the action and the post-game hot dogs.

During his painful bout in Houston, Rahm received a shot to numb the infected area. Initial relief soon wore off, quicker than the fizz in a flat soda. To stack the odds against him further, Rahm was scheduled to play alongside golf icons Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama on Thursday, setting up what would have been a riveting trio marked perhaps by some inevitable toe-envy.

Rahm’s recent unfortunate streak also includes tying for 47th at the Masters and missing the cut at the PGA Championship. Now ranked No. 8 in the world, down from No. 2 when he first joined LIV Golf, Rahm is hoping his right foot will take up more of the workload in future events.

Despite this setback, there’s a silver lining. Rahm is expected to recover just in time for The Open Championship at Royal Troon in July. Until then, he's comforted by antibiotic treatment and perhaps the solace of his fans’ well wishes, assuring his left foot it’s all for the best, even if no longer the star of the putting green.

Rahm acknowledged the wisdom of not pushing through the pain, noting that attempting to play could negatively affect his game and cause further damage. His calculation: long-term success over short-term insistence, even if it means his left foot temporarily loses its exclusive club membership.

So, as Rahm steps away to nurse his injury, leaving the course to more fortunate feet, golf fans find comfort in knowing that while his left foot might be sidelined, his determined spirit is far from hobbled. Perhaps there’s a lesson here for all of us: be good to even the smallest body parts, for they too have their days of stepping up or, in Rahm's case, stepping down."