Jon Rahm has responded to criticism aimed at him from Brooks Koepka, after the American accused him of behaving “like a child” during their Friday fourballs match at the Ryder Cup.
The Spaniard finished eagle-par-eagle to rescue half a point against Koepka and Scottie Scheffler at the end of an historic day for Europe in which the hosts opened up a commanding 6.5-1.5 lead.
In the aftermath, Koepka said he wanted to “hit a board and pout just like Jon Rahm did,” before adding: “Honestly, we’ll be fine. We’re all grown-ups. We act like grown-ups. We’ll be just fine.”
After Rahm combined with Tyrrell Hatton to beat Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in the Saturday morning foursomes at Marco Simone, he was asked how he felt about the American’s comments.
“I’m not going to stand here and say I’m a perfect example on what to do on a golf course,” Rahm said. “I don’t think either of us [he and Hatton] are. But I play and compete.
“I don’t think I need to say anything else in that regard. I play and compete the way I think I need to play and compete, and yeah, I think he mentioned it. I’m not happy I left a 10-footer short on 17 to possibly tie the hole, and going up to the tee, I let off some frustration hitting the board sideways.
“I kept walking, never stopped, that was it. If Brooks thinks that’s childish, it is what it is. He’s entitled to think what he thinks.”
The Spaniard is known as one of the game’s fieriest characters but insisted he has no plans to change how he acts on a golf course going forward.
“I’m very comfortable with who I am and what I do. I’ve done much worse on a golf course like that. That doesn’t even register to a low level of Jon anger on the golf course,” he said.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m very happy with who I am, and I needed to do that at that moment to let off some steam and play the hole I wanted to do. And clearly it worked out, played two great shots and got a little lucky on the putt. I needed to do what I needed to do to perform under those circumstances.”
The remarks took many by surprise, including Rahm, who admitted he “thought he had a pretty good relationship” with Koepka. Searching for an explanation, he put…
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