Frustrated Jon Rahm Confronts Official Amid Open de España Struggle

Jon Rahm’s return to his home tournament at the Open de España did not start as planned, as the Spaniard struggled in his first event since helping Europe win the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black last month. The 30-year-old showed visible frustration during his opening round in Madrid and got into a brief, heated exchange with a course marshal after a wayward tee shot.

Rahm Snaps at Official Who Tried To Cheer Him

The moment happened on the par-4 8th hole at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid when his drive missed the fairway and landed in the rough. Rahm began to complain after seeing his lie. “What a day, what a day,” he said, then muttered a few expletives.

A marshal told him, “It’s okay,” in a bid to reassure him as he approached the area to find his ball. But he probably didn’t expect the response that came from the Ryder Cup winner.

“Don’t tell me it’s OK, please. Thank you.”

The official quickly apologized and walked away, but the short exchange captured Rahm’s mood perfectly as he struggled in his return to competitive action — and to keep his emotions in check. Rahm, who has won the Spanish Open three times, made par on the hole but couldn’t turn his round around, as back-to-back bogeys immediately after the turn were followed by another dropped shot at the par-three ninth. He finished with a one-over 72, leaving him six shots behind early leader Ugo Coussaud of France and seven behind Sam Bairstow of England. While it wasn’t a disastrous start, it was far from the kind of homecoming Rahm had hoped for.

Rahm Admits Things Didn’t Go As Planned

Rahm admitted his homecoming didn’t go as planned during his post-round interview. The 30-year-old is hoping to win a record fourth Spanish Open, but he’ll have to do it the hard way if he’s to stand any chance of reclaiming the title he last won in 2022.

“Frustrating day. You couldn’t ask a harder question right now. I’m so angry and I want to be so sarcastic,” Rahm said. “I struggled with the wind, to be honest. There were a lot of swings that came out the way I wanted to, and the wind didn’t affect it the way I expected. I didn’t feel like I played that badly, but the score is nowhere near where I wanted it to be.”

Rahm was not alone in his struggles on the day, as his playing partner Shane Lowry also had a rough round. The Irishman shot a 4-over 75 in his opening round at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, carding six bogeys and two birdies to finish four over par. Both players looked worn out and out of rhythm following their Ryder Cup victory last month.