SILENCE OF THE RAHM
Spanish hothead vows to end emotional outbursts
JON RAHM admits he needs to tame the beast after his US Open temper tantrum left him embarrassed and begging forgiveness from Rickie Fowler.
The Spaniard is one of European golf’s brightest prospects after a rapid rise into world’s top 10 in the space of a year.
But he admits his firebrand temper needs to change after his Major meltdown at Erin Hills on his way to missing the cut.
Having been caught on camera tossing and slamming clubs during a four-over-par opening round, his outburst on the Friday was to prove even more spectacular.
Effing and jeffing, slamming his wedge to the ground, kicking it – then picking it up to slam it into the turf again for good measure. Thumping his putter into the 14th green then stomping on to the 15th tee where he punched a sign.
All watched by playing partners Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama, once the red mist had passed Rahm’s rage turned to embarrassment and contrition.
This week the cold and wet weather hanging over Portstewart should be enough to dampen his fires at the Irish Open but yesterday he admitted that’s something he’s working hard to extinguish for good.
Rahm said: “What happened at Erin Hills cannot happen again.
“I’m deeply embarrassed. I apologised to Rickie and Hideki about what I did because I would really feel bad if it affected their game.
“With both of them shooting seven under each round, I don’t think it really did. But it’s a constant battle of mine. My emotions get the best of me sometimes and when I think I have it under control, I stop the work I need to do to contain it and go back to having a bad day like that.
“If I want to have a good career and keep my image clean I need to work on it day in and day out.
“I told Hideki I was sorry on the course so I don’t know if he understood what I said. If he didn’t, I’ll tell him again this week.
“But I did text Rickie and he was really supportive. He just tried to encourage me.”
Rahm may have read the criticism of his behaviour at Erin Hills and taken it on board but one man who hasn’t taken kindly to the flak he has copped on social media is one of this week’s home favourites, Shane Lowry.
The Irishman recently considered coming off social media after taking to heart the abuse he took on it. But friend and mentor Padraig Harrington reckons Lowry only has himself to blame for listening to the Twitter trolls in the first place.
Harrington said: “It’s Shane’s fault for reading it – and I’d tell him that myself.
“While there can be good stuff on it there can also be random stuff on it which would put you off. Shane has found it frustrating.
“You cannot curtail the media. That would be censorship and that would mean you’re living in North Korea. So the only answer is simply not to read it.
“Sports people have huge issues with what’s written by the professional media. So why would you want to let complete non-experts on social media affect you as well?”