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Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Jon Rahm doesn't hold back as he makes thoughts perfectly clear about Irish golf
LIV Golf star Jon Rahm may not have had the smoothest of starts to The Open at Royal Portrush, but the Spaniard has made no secret about his love for Ireland. Rahm finished Thursday tied for 19th alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, who staged a strong recovery, and Shane Lowry, who also endured a tough start. Yet speaking ahead of the major, Rahm opened up on how he was left breathless by Portrush when playing there back in the 2014 Amateur Championship. The 30-year-old is a two-time Irish Open winner too, having won the 2019 title at Lahinch and the 2017 event at Portstewart. He also finished T11 when Lowry won the 2019 Open at Portrush, and he eulogised about his time spent on the links in this part of the world. "I don't know what it is. I think every week I've had in Ireland has been such a wonderful experience," said Rahm at LIV Golf Andalucia last week. "Whether it's the golf course, the tournament, the people, I don't know. "I really couldn't tell you exactly what it is. But every time I've gone it's been overwhelmingly positive, so I think that's led to me playing good. Or simply the fact that the first time I ever went to Ireland, to Portstewart in Northern Ireland, I played so good that I just kind of carried on. "But every experience I've had there has been great. The times we've gone, even if it's on time off with the family or tournaments, it's always been such a great one that whenever I go back, I think I feed off of that. When it comes to golf, I don't know if there's any secret to it, really." Rahm claimed that playing in Northern Ireland is a "wonderful experience" (Image: 2025 Getty Images) Despite his complimentary stance on Portrush, one fan did manage to rub Rahm up the wrong way on Thursday. After lining up to tee off in front of a hearty crowd, he appeared to be whistled at while shaping up for his backswing. After sending his drive into the long grass, the two-time major winner was then visibly frustrated as he held his arms out and faced fans to vent his anger. "Really? Whistling? Great timing. Right on my backstroke. Really clever, whoever that was," Rahm fumed. He is now hoping to taste victory in this competition for the first time after finishing as joint runner-up in 2023 - the same year he secured his maiden title at The Masters. Rahm took issue with a section of fans on Thursday (Image: R&A via Getty Images) While the 2021 US Open champion will be looking to make an impact at Portrush, it's etching his place in Luke Donald's Ryder Cup team that's very much in the back of his mind. The Ryder Cup begins on September 26 and Rahm gave a slightly irritated response when asked if he had been thinking about the event going into The Open, all too aware that he will need a solid performance if he wants to ensure automatic qualification. "I don't know how many times I can answer yes to that question," Rahm told reporters this week. "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. Obviously when I wake up in the morning here, I'm thinking about this, but the Ryder Cup will always be on my mind."
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Jacob Skov Olesen overcomes major inexperience to set early lead at The Open
The 26-year-old Danish left-hander, who won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin in Ireland last summer, only turned professional in November after earning his DP World Tour card. That meant he had to sacrifice his amateur exemptions for this year's Masters and US Open so this was only his second appearance at one of golf's premier events after debuting at Troon 12 months ago. Jacob Skov Oleson cards an early lead at Royal Portrush. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 After making the turn in one under, he birdied the 10th, holed a 40-foot eagle putt at the 12th and chipped in for birdie at the 15th to move clear on five under but bogeyed the last. That dropped him into a share of the lead with China's Haotong Li, withMatthew Jordan, the Royal Liverpool golfer who has finished 10th in the last two Opens, a shot behind. He enjoyed a run of three birdies immediately after making the turn on one under, only to drop a shot at the par-three 13th. Veteran Lee Westwood rolled back the years to be bogey-free through 13 holes to also reach four under before dropping his first shot. The 52-year-old, back at the Open for the first time since 2022 after coming through qualifying, finished joint-fourth on this course six years ago and used all his experience to manoeuvre himself to the top of the leaderboard. He birdied the par-five second and then drove the green at the 372-yard par-four fifth to pick up another shot and a take a share of the lead for the first time. Westwood made the most of Portrush's other two par-fives, the seventh and 12th, with birdies at both just as the rain began to get heavier but then three-putted the 14th. A short game holes out from the sand. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 The morning was also good for Westwood's fellow LIV golfer Phil Mickelson, who carded his best Open round since the third day at Carnoustie in 2018 with a one-under 70 – the highlight of which was a holed bunker shot for par at the third having left his first in the sand. The 2013 Open champion has missed the cut in five of his last seven majors and since the 2023 Masters has not finished higher than 43rd. World number one Scottie Scheffler, 2019 champion Shane Lowry and two-time major winner and one of the favourites this week Jon Rahm were all two under well into their front nine.
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Jacob Skov Olesen overcomes major inexperience to set early lead at The Open
The 26-year-old Danish left-hander, who won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin in Ireland last summer, only turned professional in November after earning his DP World Tour card. That meant he had to sacrifice his amateur exemptions for this year's Masters and US Open so this was only his second appearance at one of golf's premier events after debuting at Troon 12 months ago. Jacob Skov Oleson cards an early lead at Royal Portrush. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 After making the turn in one under, he birdied the 10th, holed a 40-foot eagle putt at the 12th and chipped in for birdie at the 15th to move clear on five under but bogeyed the last. That dropped him into a share of the lead with China's Haotong Li, with Matthew Jordan, the Royal Liverpool golfer who has finished 10th in the last two Opens, a shot behind. He enjoyed a run of three birdies immediately after making the turn on one under, only to drop a shot at the par-three 13th. Veteran Lee Westwood rolled back the years to be bogey-free through 13 holes to also reach four under before dropping his first shot. The 52-year-old, back at the Open for the first time since 2022 after coming through qualifying, finished joint-fourth on this course six years ago and used all his experience to manoeuvre himself to the top of the leaderboard. He birdied the par-five second and then drove the green at the 372-yard par-four fifth to pick up another shot and a take a share of the lead for the first time. Westwood made the most of Portrush's other two par-fives, the seventh and 12th, with birdies at both just as the rain began to get heavier but then three-putted the 14th. A short game holes out from the sand. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 The morning was also good for Westwood's fellow LIV golfer Phil Mickelson, who carded his best Open round since the third day at Carnoustie in 2018 with a one-under 70 – the highlight of which was a holed bunker shot for par at the third having left his first in the sand. The 2013 Open champion has missed the cut in five of his last seven majors and since the 2023 Masters has not finished higher than 43rd. World number one Scottie Scheffler, 2019 champion Shane Lowry and two-time major winner and one of the favourites this week Jon Rahm were all two under well into their front nine.
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Jacob Skov Olesen overcomes major inexperience to set early lead at The Open
The 26-year-old Danish left-hander, who won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin in Ireland last summer, only turned professional in November after earning his DP World Tour card. That meant he had to sacrifice his amateur exemptions for this year's Masters and US Open so this was only his second appearance at one of golf's premier events after debuting at Troon 12 months ago. Jacob Skov Oleson cards an early lead at Royal Portrush. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 After making the turn in one under, he birdied the 10th, holed a 40-foot eagle putt at the 12th and chipped in for birdie at the 15th to move clear on five under but bogeyed the last. That dropped him into a share of the lead with China's Haotong Li, withMatthew Jordan, the Royal Liverpool golfer who has finished 10th in the last two Opens, a shot behind. He enjoyed a run of three birdies immediately after making the turn on one under, only to drop a shot at the par-three 13th. Veteran Lee Westwood rolled back the years to be bogey-free through 13 holes to also reach four under before dropping his first shot. The 52-year-old, back at the Open for the first time since 2022 after coming through qualifying, finished joint-fourth on this course six years ago and used all his experience to manoeuvre himself to the top of the leaderboard. He birdied the par-five second and then drove the green at the 372-yard par-four fifth to pick up another shot and a take a share of the lead for the first time. Westwood made the most of Portrush's other two par-fives, the seventh and 12th, with birdies at both just as the rain began to get heavier but then three-putted the 14th. A short game holes out from the sand. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 The morning was also good for Westwood's fellow LIV golfer Phil Mickelson, who carded his best Open round since the third day at Carnoustie in 2018 with a one-under 70 – the highlight of which was a holed bunker shot for par at the third having left his first in the sand. The 2013 Open champion has missed the cut in five of his last seven majors and since the 2023 Masters has not finished higher than 43rd. World number one Scottie Scheffler, 2019 champion Shane Lowry and two-time major winner and one of the favourites this week Jon Rahm were all two under well into their front nine.
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Jacob Skov Olesen overcomes major inexperience to set early lead at The Open
The 26-year-old Danish left-hander, who won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin in Ireland last summer, only turned professional in November after earning his DP World Tour card. That meant he had to sacrifice his amateur exemptions for this year's Masters and US Open so this was only his second appearance at one of golf's premier events after debuting at Troon 12 months ago. Jacob Skov Oleson cards an early lead at Royal Portrush. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 After making the turn in one under, he birdied the 10th, holed a 40-foot eagle putt at the 12th and chipped in for birdie at the 15th to move clear on five under but bogeyed the last. That dropped him into a share of the lead with China's Haotong Li, withMatthew Jordan, the Royal Liverpool golfer who has finished 10th in the last two Opens, a shot behind. He enjoyed a run of three birdies immediately after making the turn on one under, only to drop a shot at the par-three 13th. Veteran Lee Westwood rolled back the years to be bogey-free through 13 holes to also reach four under before dropping his first shot. The 52-year-old, back at the Open for the first time since 2022 after coming through qualifying, finished joint-fourth on this course six years ago and used all his experience to manoeuvre himself to the top of the leaderboard. He birdied the par-five second and then drove the green at the 372-yard par-four fifth to pick up another shot and a take a share of the lead for the first time. Westwood made the most of Portrush's other two par-fives, the seventh and 12th, with birdies at both just as the rain began to get heavier but then three-putted the 14th. A short game holes out from the sand. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 The morning was also good for Westwood's fellow LIV golfer Phil Mickelson, who carded his best Open round since the third day at Carnoustie in 2018 with a one-under 70 – the highlight of which was a holed bunker shot for par at the third having left his first in the sand. The 2013 Open champion has missed the cut in five of his last seven majors and since the 2023 Masters has not finished higher than 43rd. World number one Scottie Scheffler, 2019 champion Shane Lowry and two-time major winner and one of the favourites this week Jon Rahm were all two under well into their front nine.
