Jon Rahm was left furious after a spectator whistled during his backswing at The Open in Portrush, Northern Ireland. The 30-year-old Spaniard, who was taking a shot down the fairway, turned to the crowd and sarcastically congratulated the culprit, saying: 'Really? Whistling? Great timing. Right on my backstroke. Really clever, whoever that was.'
The incident occurred in rainy conditions as Rahm began his campaign at Royal Portrush. Despite his frustration, he managed to recover from a wayward drive that landed in the long grass, maintaining a 100 per cent start on greens in regulation, though he bogeyed the 10th hole.
Rahm is aiming for his first Open victory after finishing joint-second in 2023, the same year he won his first Masters title. He also has a US Open win from 2021. A strong performance at The Open is crucial for his hopes of qualifying automatically for the Ryder Cup, which begins on September 26.
When asked about the Ryder Cup, Rahm said: 'I don't know how many times I can answer yes to that question. Yeah, it's been on my mind. It's been on my mind a year ago, and it will continue on my mind as long as I play golf in my career. So the Ryder Cup is always there.'
