Jon Rahm explains why missing out on a medal at the Olympics was ‘a lot more painful’ than he imagined

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Jon Rahm endured a final round nightmare to see his Olympic dream go up in flames over in Paris.

Rahm was leading overnight but could only card a one under par final round of 70 to miss out on the medal places by two shots.

It all unravelled for Rahm on the back nine and he simply couldn’t fight back to get back into the top three as he saw Scottie Scheffler take gold.

• READ MORE: Viktor Hovland issues verdict on Olympic golf event as well as his own performance

For Rahm, it was a hugely disappointing finish to what had been a brilliant week overall in Paris for him.

However, with no money on the line and the honour of representing his country, Rahm admitted that losing out in the final round had really left him reeling.

Jon Rahm admits losing at the Olympics has really hurt him

Speaking after his final round collapse saw him miss out on a medal completely, Rahm admitted that the whole situation had left him feeling a touch emotional.

“I don’t remember the last time I played a tournament and I felt this — I don’t know what the word is because, you know, I not only feel like I let myself down but to just not get it done for the whole country of Spain, it’s a lot more painful than I would like it to be,” Rahm said.

“I’ve gotten the question, where this tournament would rank in my opinion or what I would think it would feel like to win, and I think by losing today, I’m getting a much deeper appreciation of what this tournament means to me than if I had won any medal, right.

“I’m getting a taste of how much it really mattered.

“I’ve been very honoured to represent Spain in many, many different events, and to not get this one done stings quite a bit.”

Rahm gets the feeling he needed in Paris

• READ MORE: Tom Kim shares what Scottie Scheffler did to make him ’emotional’ after his final round at the Olympics

After Rahm took so much money to go and play for LIV Golf – something he is more than entitled to do – maybe this week in Paris will have been a jolt for the good.

Sure, he won last week on LIV for the first time but when he speaks like this, it just goes to show that the big events matter.

The Olympics has shown that golf needs to come together again. There has to be a way for LIV and the PGA to co-exist.

How that looks going forward is anyone’s guess. But there has to be a way, so we can see more weekends like this.