Brooks Koepka had some choice words for Jon Rahm after the Spaniard and Nicolai Hojgaard earned a half against him and Scottie Scheffler in session two of the Ryder Cup…
Brooks Koepka appeared to accuse Jon Rahm of acting like a child on the first day of the Ryder Cup.
Koepka and his partner Scottie Scheffler were 1-up on the 18th hole in their afternoon foursomes match when Rahm pegged them back with an incredible eagle putt.
The Spaniard and his partner Nicolai Hojgaard secured a half, which helped to prevent a revival from Koepka and the USA after they were beaten 4-0 in the morning foursomes.
“I mean, I think me and Scottie birdied, what did we say, 14, we birdied 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and then lost by two,” Koepka said at Marco Simone.
“So yeah. 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.”
It isn’t clear what Koepka is referring to with these comments. The major-winning US duo had also been 1-up after 15 holes before Rahm drained his first eagle on the 16th and repeated those heroics two holes later.
JON RAHM 😲#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/zSbR5vMbSE
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
Koepka, who won his fifth major title at the PGA Championship in May, was tied runner-up to Rahm at the Masters after reproducing some of his best form on the LIV Golf Tour.
The 33-year-old and his wife Jena Sims recently became parents and he is the only player from the LIV Golf roster to have made Zach Johnson’s Ryder Cup side.
But despite much promise in the second session, the United States didn’t win one match in Rome and trail by 6.5 points to 1.5.
As for European captain Luke Donald, he led Europe to their first whitewash over America in the opening session of a Ryder Cup in the event’s history – having fielded all of his 12-strong team on a memorable day.
Donald said he was unsure what Koepka’s comments were about after he was asked if they were in reference to Rahm’s on-course behaviour.
“I certainly didn’t see any of that,” Donald said. “Jon was a big support system for Nicolai today, and to hit a big drive down 18 and hit it on the front of the green and make an eagle for a half, that’s a lot of passion.
“Jon is a passionate person, but I didn’t see him acting any other way.”
Rahm was asked about Koepka’s comment after the Saturday foursomes session:
“I’m not going to stand here and say I’m a, you know, perfect example on what to do on a golf course. I don’t think either of us two are (laughter). 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 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.”
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