Jon Rahm insists a nearby spectator is not to blame for a rocky shot in the first round at The Open Championship, despite losing his cool in the heat of the moment.
The 30-year-old was playing the par-four 11th when he sent his tee shot through the wind into the right rough before turning his attention to a noisy spectator.
As Rahm looked to move on from the shot, he questioned why the fan had made a whistling noise during his backswing.
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“Really? Whistling? Great timing,” Rahm was heard saying.
“Right on my backswing. Very smart, whoever that was.”
Jon Rahm takes aim at a spectator after they made a whistle sound during his backswing. FOX Sports
Rahm went on to bogey the hole.
Having regained his composure, Rahm completed his round in 1-under 70.
Still, the two-time major winner could not overlook his own frustrations at the day’s end.
Speaking to reporters, the Spaniard admitted he did not believe the spectator had made the noise to intentionally distract him.
“I know they’re not doing it on purpose,” he said.
“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.
Jon Rahm of Spain walks alongside his caddie. R&A via Getty Images
“It just seemed like somebody trying to get a hold of someone for whatever it is.
“It was bad timing… I just had to let out any tension I had in me. It probably didn’t affect (the shot) as much as I made it sound like.”
Rahm is eyeing his first title of the year at the Open and his first major title outside America.
His best result at the event was in 2023, where he finished joint-second. In that same year, he won The Masters.
Rahm was tied 21st, three behind the leaders, after the first round.