Brooks Koepka takes pop at “child” Jon Rahm after Europe rock USA in Rome

SportsJOE

Shane was all of us when this dropped!

Brooks Koepka took a post-round shot at Jon Rahm after Europe built a healthy lead over America after the opening sessions of the Ryder Cup.

The American was far from happy with the Spaniard after Rahm staged a stunning fourballs fight-back – including two eagles in the final three holes – to earn Europe another half a point, when they finished five clear. Asked for his take on his halved match with Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, Brooks Koepka proclaimed:

“I mean, I want to hit a board and pout just like Jon Rahm did. But, you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we’re adults. We move on.”

The ‘board’ comment apparently refers to Rahm’s 18th green putt that bounced off the back of the hole [back-board] before dropping in. In a later press briefing, Koepka commented, “Honestly, we’ll be fine. We’re all grown-ups. We act like grown-ups. We’ll be just fine. Just got to play and see where it puts you.”

That sort of spikiness summed up a day when the USA were rocked in Rome. After day one, golf writer Paddy Morgan summed up a dominant day for Team Europe.

Jon Rahm & Tyrell Hatton against Scottie Scheffler & Sam Burns

Rahm holed a left to right putt for birdie to win the third hole. Europe went 2up after Rahm nearly achieved a hole in one at the seventh hole. USA got a half at the ninth after Burns holed a putt for par. The game changed at the 10th as Rahm played a sensational shot out of the bunker that went into the hole for a par.

The momentum of holing a bunker shot carried into the next hole as Rahm put his tee shot on the green at the reachable par four 11th . The 12th is a reachable par five and Rahm hit another quality iron shot to set up an eagle putt. Europe went 3up after winning the 12th hole.

Europe hit a great shot at the 14th hole to earn a fabulous half. The match came to an end on the 15th as Rahm and Hatton won 4 &3. Rahm and Hatton were six under for
the foursomes which was quality.

Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg against Brian Harman & Max Homa

Europe got off to a fabulous start as Hovland achieved a chip in for birdie at the first hole. The match went back to all square after the fourth hole. Aberg started to play well as he holed a putt to win the hole at the sixth. Europe were 2up after nine holes.

At the 11th Harman hit a good shot but Aberg managed to get his chip shot closer to go 3up. Europe went to 4up after 14 holes. Hovland was absolutely outstanding and
showed this morning why he is one of the best players in the world. This game ended at the 15th as Hovland and Aberg won 4 &3.

Shane Lowry & Sepp Straka against Collin Morikawa & Rickie Fowler

Lowry hit incredible iron shots to go 2up after four holes. Europe lost the reachable fifth after going into the water. Europe went 3up at the eight hole as Straka hit his approach
shot to 12 feet. Europe started the back nine 4up.

USA rallied as the match was back to two down after 13 holes. Europe won the 14th to go back to 3up. USA played an incredible bunker shot at the 15 th to achieve a half. Lowry hit a weird shot at the 16 th that somehow avoided the water and lost the 16th after Straka missed a putt for par. Straka hit the green on the 17 th and holed a putt
from three feet to achieve a 2 & 1 win.

Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood against Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele

Europe went 1up at the fourth after McIlroy holed a birdie putt from six feet. Europe went 2up after winning the eight hole. McIlroy holed a close-range birdie putt at the
short par four 11 th to retain a 2up lead.

USA brought the game back to one down after winning the 14th hole. Europe were forced to lay up at the 15 th hole after McIlroy missed the fairway. USA made a huge error as they had a three putt at the 15th and Fleetwood holed a great putt for par to go 2up. USA won the 16th to bring the game to the par three 17th hole.

McIlroy stepped up and hit an incredible shot to one foot. This was an amazing shot and Fleetwood holed the birdie putt to end the game. Four wins for Europe in the first
session.

Viktor Hovland & Tyrrell Hatton against Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas

Europe got off to a perfect start as Hatton won the first hole with a birdie. Spieth chipped in for a birdie to win the fourth hole. USA went ahead for the first time in the Ryder Cup after Thomas won the sixth but it didn’t last long as Hovland won the seventh hole.

Thomas found the green in two at the par five ninth but Hovland hit a great third shot and holed a birdie putt for a half. Hovland and Hatton both missed the fairway at the par five 12th . Spieth made birdies at 12th and 13th to put USA 2up. Europe and USA were all square after 16 holes.

The tee shots that Thomas, Hatton and Hovalnd hit at the 215 yard par three 17th were incredible but they halved the hole. It came down to the 18 th and Thomas set up a
birdie after a good chip shot but Hovland holed a fantastic putt to earn a halved match.

Tale of the 18th after tight fourballs contest

Viktor Hovland & Tyrrell Hatton against Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas

Thomas found the green in two at the par five ninth but Hovland hit a great third shot and holed a birdie putt for a half. Hovland and Hatton both missed the fairway at the par five 12th. Spieth made birdies at 12th and 13th to put USA 2up.

Europe and USA were all square after 16 holes. The tee shots that Thomas, Hatton and Hovalnd hit at the 215 yard par three 17th were incredible but they halved the hole. It came down to the 18 th and Thomas set up a birdie after a good chip shot but Hovland holed a fantastic putt to earn a halved match.

Jon Rahm & Nicolai Hojgaard against Brooks Koepka & Scottie Scheffler

Hojgaard put Europe 2up as he made birdies at both the sixth, seventh and eight hole. This game was back to all square after 10 holes. USA went 1up at the 15th. The final three
holes of this game were unbelievable which started with Rahm chipping in for an eagle at the 16th .

The 17th par three was playing difficult but the two tee shots from Rahm and Scheffler were amazing. Scheffler holed his birdie putt to put USA in front with one hole to go. Rahm hit a sensational second shot at the 18th to set up an eagle putt. Brooks Koepka put his chip shot very close to set up a guaranteed birdie. Rahm done the unthinkable and halved the match by holing his eagle putt.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?!

Take a bow, Jon Rahm 👏 pic.twitter.com/SQ6YWBwPcw

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 29, 2023

Justin Rose & Robert MacIntyre against Wyndham Clark & Max Homa

Europe went ahead early on but was all square after six holes. Clark hit an incredible shot to find the green in two at the par five ninth and went 2up. Rose battled and won the 10th but Clark showed why he is the US Open champion as he halved the 12th and won the 13th.

Rose continued to fight as he brought the game back to one down after 15 holes. MacIntyre found the green in one at the 16 th but lost the hole after a three putt. Europe won the 17th and Rose holed his birdie putt at the 18th to earn a halved match.

Rory McIlroy & Matt Fitzpatrick against Collin Morikawa & Xander Schauffele

Fitzpatrick’s putting was extraordinary as he played the first six holes in six under. McIlroy was a spectator until he achieved a birdie at the seventh, ninth and 10th . USA
won a couple of holes on the back nine but this game came to an end on the 15th as Europe won 4&3.

SCORE AFTER DAY ONE: 6.5 Europe to 1.5 USA

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