Jon Rahm responds to stinging Brooks Koepka comment after Ryder Cup match
Jon Rahm has responded to the stinging criticism from Brooks Koepka after the American labelled the Spaniard 'a child' after their Ryder Cup match.
ROME - Jon Rahm says he's 'not the perfect example' of how to behave on a golf course but he's 'comfortable with who I am' after Brooks Koepka labelled the Spaniard 'a child' after their Ryder Cup match.
Rahm, playing alongside Nicolai Hojgaard, managed two eagles in the three closing holes at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in their Friday afternoon fourball duel with Koepka and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler.
The Spaniard went absolutely bananas when he chipped in at No. 16 but was frustrated after leaving his birdie putt short at the very next hole where Scheffler drew the contest level.
Rahm explained that as he walked to the final hole he 'hit a board' sideways to let off some steam.
It's what he needed to do in the moment, he said, adding: "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."
When Rahm said he got lucky on the putt he wasn't lying. In fairness to the 2023 Masters champion, he was never going to leave it short.
Koepka said: "I mean, I just want to hit a board and pout, just like Jon Rahm did. But, you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we're adults. We move on."
The Ryder Cup team captains have also offered their thoughts on the two golfers.
A reporter asked Rahm: "His remarks. He accused you of acting like a child?"
Rahm said:
His playing partner Tyrrell Hatton, who was sat beside Rahm in the press conference, joked he was just watching the TV.
Rahm continued:
Pressed further, Rahm added: "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.
"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.
"Is it right or wrong, childish or not, I don't know, but that's what I needed at the moment."
Rahm said he was aware of what Koepka said. His friends let him know and he wished they hadn't.
Jon Rahm. #RyderCup2023 pic.twitter.com/oif5uQTpt9
— BenSmith (@bensmithgolf) September 30, 2023
He added: "But whatever he says it shouldn't be changed on the way I approach this tournament, right. That's it. I'm here to do my job, and whatever comments anybody else may have shouldn't really change the way I go about it or what I think of myself. It wasn't good or bad, really. It just simply is, and that's it."
Rahm and Hatton won their Saturday morning foursomes match 2&1 against Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
The former was accused of leading a rift in the Team USA locker room, something which a member of his team denies.
Koepka played with Scheffler in the morning and were battered 9&7 by Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland.
It was the largest defeat in Ryder Cup history and Scheffler was reduced to tears.
Koepka and Scheffler were benched for the afternoon session. Speculation is also mounting over the health of Rickie Fowler after he did not play in a single match on Saturday.
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