{"id":269729,"date":"2025-07-17T16:13:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T16:13:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/269729\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T16:13:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T16:13:22","slug":"let-out-tension-jon-rahm-explains-confrontation-with-fan-who-left-him-furious-at-the-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/269729\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Let out tension’ – Jon Rahm explains confrontation with fan who left him furious at The Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jon Rahm has explained what led to him confronting a fan at Royal Portrush in his opening round at The Open on Thursday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Spaniard<\/a> was left furious as he appeared to be distracted by a whistle from the crowd whilst hitting a tee shot.<\/p>\n

\"Rahm<\/a><\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

Rahm didn’t hide his anger towards the fans next to the teeCredit: @CPowers14 \/ X\"He<\/a><\/p>\n

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He instantly turned to face the fans and started questioning themCredit: @CPowers14 \/ X<\/p>\n

After a strong start through nine holes, Rahm sat at two-under-par and within the top six on the leaderboard.<\/p>\n

However, a bogey at the 10th hole at Portrush in Northern Ireland sent the LIV Golf<\/a> star into the next hole in a bad mood. <\/p>\n

And that spilt over on the tee box as he began the 11th.<\/p>\n

Rahm hit his driver shot but instantly wasn’t happy with it, stepping back and looking over at the fans watching on. <\/p>\n

He had heard a whistle during his backswing, and he blamed the noise as his shot landed in the thick rough.<\/p>\n

In reaction to the noise, Rahm turned towards spectators and exclaimed in an angry tone: “Really?”<\/p>\n

He then continued to rant, saying: “Whistling? Great timing. Right in my backswing, very smart whoever it was.”<\/p>\n

The rain-soaked Open fans just stared back at Rahm during the confrontation, with the guilty party unknown. <\/p>\n

The two-time major winner would have wanted to find the fairway on the 11th, which is known as one of the most difficult holes on the course<\/a> and saw over four times more bogeys than birdies in 2019.<\/p>\n

But after the supposed distraction, Rahm sent his shot into the rough and managed to scramble to record a bogey on the par 4.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

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The two-time major winner dealt with whistles and bad weather on his first roundCredit: AFP<\/p>\n

That meant he dropped back to even par for the opening round and left him needing to regain composure. <\/p>\n

And on the 12th hole, he did manage to stop his bogey streak before going on to finish his round on -1. <\/p>\n

Rahm then explained exactly what happened in the incident, admitting he may have got too angry with the situation.<\/p>\n

He told the media: “If I were to paint a picture, it was the hardest tee shot on the course, raining, into the wind. That’s enough.<\/p>\n

“I know they’re not doing it on purpose, it just seemed like somebody trying to get a hold of someone…it was bad timing. <\/p>\n

“I think I just used the moment to let out any tension I had in me. <\/p>\n

\"Rahm<\/a><\/p>\n

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Rahm is hoping to win his third career major this weekCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

“It is what it is to be honest, probably didn’t affect as much as I made it sound like, it was a bad swing as well.” <\/p>\n

Rahm is yet to win The Open, claiming his two major titles with US Open<\/a> success in 2021 and a Masters crown in 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n

His best finish in the British major was a T2 at Royal Liverpool in the same year that he claimed a Green Jacket. <\/p>\n

The last time he played at Royal Portrush, it was a T11 finish, but he’ll be hoping for a better outcome this time around. <\/p>\n

Rahm is grouped with reigning Open champion Xander Schauffele<\/a> and this year’s US Open winner<\/a> J.J. Spaun for the opening two rounds.<\/p>\n

He will tee off for his second round in Northern Ireland among the late starters at 2:59pm on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n

talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage from Portrush from 7am.<\/p>\n

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Winner (E\/W 1\/4 5 Places):<\/p>\n