Jon Rahm fumes at ‘whistling' fan in tense British Open scene
After his tee shot on the 11th hole in the first round Thursday at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the two-time major winner claimed that a fan was whistling during his backswing and expressed his frustration.
'Really? Whistling? Great time. Right in my backswing,' Rahm said toward a group of nearby fans, as shown on the USA Network broadcast. 'Very smart, whoever it was.'
3 Jon Rahm reacts toward fans while accusing one of whistling during his backswing at the British Open on July 17, 2025.
X/NUCLR Golf
Rahm's tee shot sailed into the thick rough to the right of the fairway, forcing him to layup and leading to a bogey.
Through 17 holes, Rahm was 1-under and tied for 14th place as Jacob Skov Olesen, Haotong Li and Matt Fitzpatrick tied atop the leaderboard at 4-under.
Rahm, 30, has not won a major since he jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf at the end of 2023 on a contract reportedly worth upward of $300 million, a stunning defection as he had previously brushed off reports linking him to the Saudi-backed league.
The Spaniard finished tied for 45th at the 2024 Masters before missing the cut at the PGA Championship. He missed the U.S. Open with a foot injury but finished tied for seventh at the 2024 British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland.
3 Jon Rahm gestures as he leaves the first tee at the British Open on July 17, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
3 Jon Rahm (r.) hits his tee shot on the first hole at the British Open on July 17, 2025.
REUTERS
Rahm has been more consistent in majors this year, finishing tied for 14th at Augusta, tied for eighth at the PGA Championship and tied for seventh at last month's U.S. Open at Oakmont.
He captured his first major championship at the 2021 U.S. Open and took home the green jacket at the 2023 Masters.
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