Jon Rahm claimed he has no issue with Brooks Koepka after the American accused him of acting like a child Friday.
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.
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.
Koepka, clearly frustrated at letting a potentially key full point slip away for the Americans, hit out at Rahm following the match.
‘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.
Jon Rahm said he has no issue with Brooks Koepka after he accused him of acting like a child
Koepka (right) slammed Rahm (left) after the conclusion of the first day of the Ryder Cup
After he and Tyrrell Hatton dispatched Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele 2&1 Saturday morning, Rahm brushed off Koepka’s comments.
The Masters champion admitted that he had hit a board in frustration but insisted he won’t change the way he competes.
‘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.
‘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.’
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.
‘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.
‘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 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.
‘There’s always been that mutual respect. And he’s always been an incredible player, and he’s always done amazing things.
Rahm admitted that he had hit a board but insisted he won’t change the way he competes
The Masters champion insisted that he had a good relationship with the LIV Golf defector
‘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.
‘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.’
Europe captain Luke Donald was also asked about Rahm’s comments but did not offer an opinion.
‘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.’