{"id":292660,"date":"2023-09-30T14:49:57","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T14:49:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=292660"},"modified":"2023-09-30T14:49:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T14:49:57","slug":"jon-rahm-hits-back-at-brooks-koepkas-criticism-of-acting-like-a-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/golf\/jon-rahm-hits-back-at-brooks-koepkas-criticism-of-acting-like-a-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Jon Rahm hits back at Brooks Koepka's criticism of acting like a child"},"content":{"rendered":"
Jon Rahm claimed he has no issue with Brooks Koepka after the American accused him of acting like a child Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Spaniard, 28, and partner Nicolai Hojgaard clinched a crucial half point for Europe in the Friday fourballs after tying their match against Koepka and World no. 1 Scottie Scheffler on the 18th.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Europeans were trailing one down after 15 before Rahm chipped in from 63 feet for eagle at the 16th and then sunk a 35-foot putt for another eagle on the 18th to tie the match.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Koepka, clearly frustrated at letting a potentially key full point slip away for the Americans, hit out at Rahm following the match.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I mean, I 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,’ Koepka said in a television interview Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Jon Rahm said he has no issue with Brooks Koepka after he accused him of acting like a child<\/p>\n
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Koepka (right) slammed Rahm (left) after the conclusion of the first day of the Ryder Cup<\/p>\n
After he and Tyrrell Hatton dispatched Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele 2&1 Saturday morning, Rahm brushed off Koepka’s comments.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Masters champion admitted that he had hit a board in frustration but insisted he won’t change the way he competes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I’m not going to stand here and say I’m a, you know, perfect example on what to do on a golf course,’ Rahm said. ‘I play and compete the way I think I need to play and compete, and yeah, I think he mentioned it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘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, and I mean, I don’t know what else to say.’<\/p>\n
Rahm added that while he was steering clear of social media, he was made aware of Koepka’s criticism by friends who sent it to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I’m very comfortable with who I am and what I do,’ Rahm said. ‘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.<\/p>\n
‘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.’<\/p>\n
Rahm added that he had no issue with the American, saying: ‘I’ve never had an issue with Brooks, to be fair. I don’t know now, but up until yesterday afternoon, I thought we had a pretty good relationship, you know.<\/p>\n
‘There’s always been that mutual respect. And he’s always been an incredible player, and he’s always done amazing things.<\/p>\n
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Rahm\u00a0admitted that he had hit a board but insisted he won’t change the way he competes<\/p>\n
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The Masters champion insisted that he had a good relationship with the LIV Golf defector\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘And it could be that. Listen, had I seen somebody make the putt on 18 the way I did, I would not have been the happiest of people either. Clearly there was a little bit of luck involved with that. But it is match play. I think we saw plenty of the opposite when we were at Whistling Straits two years ago.<\/p>\n
‘But yeah, I think it could be attributed to it being a long day and seeing what happened on the last three holes that we did. I really don’t know what else to say about it. It was a heck of a match. I think they played 10-under par, and Nicolai and I had a great day it. Was really, really fun to be a part of it and experience that.’<\/p>\n
Europe captain Luke Donald was also asked about Rahm’s comments but did not offer an opinion.<\/p>\n
‘I certainly didn’t see any of that,’ Donald said. ‘Jon was a big support system for Nicolai today. Jon’s a passionate person, but I didn’t see him acting any other way.’<\/p>\n