Rahm explains outburst at Open Championship.
Jon Rahm Addresses Angry Outburst at Fan at Open Championship originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Jon Rahm, a two‑time major champion, opened his campaign at Royal Portrush with a 1‑under‑par 70, placing him three shots off the lead after Thursday’s first round.
Battling gusty winds and intermittent rain, Rahm birdied the par‑5 second hole but dropped shots at Nos. 10 and 11, where he found the rough after a misplaced drive. He rebounded late with a birdie at the 14th to salvage his score.
Rahm’s round was also marked by a tense moment on the par‑4 11th tee, when he reacted sharply to what he believed was a spectator whistling during his backswing. The interruption caused his drive to slice into the rough, leading to another bogey.
"Really? Whistling? Great timing. Right in my backswing. Very smart…whoever it was," Rahm angrily said.
Asked to explain the exchange at his post‑round press conference, Rahm downplayed the severity of the incident and framed it as a natural release of built‑up tension amid challenging conditions.
“If I were to paint a picture, you have the hardest tee shot on the course, raining, into the wind off the left, it’s enough," Rahm said. "I know they’re not doing it on purpose. It just seemed like somebody trying to get a hold of someone for whatever it is. It was bad timing.
"Really? Whistling, great time. Right in my back swing."
— Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) July 17, 2025
Jon Rahm not thrilled.pic.twitter.com/mj3CblEmBk
"I think I just used the moment to let out any tension I had in me. Really, that’s not ... it is what it is. To be honest, it probably didn’t affect as much as I made it sound like. It was a bad swing as well. Just a difficult hole.”
Rahm will tee off in Friday’s second round as a late starter, looking to convert his steady start into momentum as he chases one of the two major titles — along with the PGA Championship — that has so far eluded him.
Related: PGA Tour Makes Scottie Scheffler Announcement Before Open Championship
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
