Jon Rahm snaps at fan at Royal Portrush, video

Jon Rahm let fly at a spectator midway through his first round at The Open Championship with the star’s notoriously bad temper bubbling to the surface at Royal Portrush.

Watch every round of The Open Live & Exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now & get your first month for just $1.

The Spaniard made a solid start to his round with a two-under front nine, but came into trouble at the 10th where he made a bogey after flying the green.

So when he stepped onto the 11th tee, with the wind howling and the heavens open, tensions were high for Rahm whose drive then flew into the right rough.

He had someone to blame for the mis-hit with Rahm taking aim at a spectator for making noise behind him in the middle of his backswing.

“Really? Whistling? Right, great time,” Rahm was heard saying as he gestured towards the gallery. “Right on my backswing. Very smart, whoever it was.”

Rahm ultimately made bogey on the hole after his troubles off the tee, though he regained his composure to sign for a one-under 70, three shots off the overnight lead.

But all the attention remained on the incident at No.11, which the A$460m LIV Golf star was asked about after his round.

“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.

Of the fan, he added: “I know they’re not doing it on purpose.

OPEN RD 1: Bryson red-faced over ugly implosion; No.1 clips back after bizarre round

AUSSIE WRAP: ‘Deadly serious’: Ex-convict lifts lid over wild Phil moment as Smith turns corner after shocker

LEADERBOARD: Follow the first round action at the Open

5 tied at top in closest Rd 1 since 1938 | 03:11

“It just seemed like somebody trying to get a hold of someone for whatever it is. It was bad timing. I think I just used the moment to let out any tension I had in me.

“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. I mean, it’s frustrating, but it is what it is. It’s an everyday thing in golf.”

Cam Smith off to worst possible start! | 00:53

Rahm is expected to contend heavily at The Open after a strong LIV Golf season, and good results at this year’s majors.

The PGA Tour defector has only once finished outside of the top-10 in 10 LIV Golf starts this year, while he finished T14, T8 and T7 at the Masters, PGA Championship and US Open respectively.

Rahm’s two major wins do no include the Claret Jug, though he was runner-up in 2023 and T3 in 2021.