Jon Rahm lashes at grass. Then he apologizes after divot hits man's face
Jon Rahm accidentally hit a volunteer in the face and shoulder with a divot during the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club after lashing out at the grass in frustration, then apologized and expressed regret. He later explained the course’s challenges, noting its deceptive slopes and thick rough, while reflecting on his own performance after a poor shot choice led to a bogey on the 7th hole.
Jon Rahm faced an embarrassing moment during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia, where he shot a one-under 69. After hitting his second shot over the green on the par-4 7th hole, he lashed out at the grass in frustration, sending a divot into a volunteer’s face and shoulder. The incident prompted an immediate apology from Rahm, who later admitted he was unaware of the volunteer’s presence and felt immense regret. A video from the PGA Championship’s website captured Rahm’s follow-up swing and the aftermath, showing him turning toward the gallery. He later told reporters, ‘I couldn’t feel any worse’ and vowed to find the volunteer to offer a personal apology and gift. Despite the incident, Rahm described his shot on the 7th as a ‘wrong choice,’ though he later redeemed himself with a two-under performance on the remaining holes, including an eagle 2 after holing out from 98 yards on the par-4 2nd. Rahm also addressed the course’s difficulty, noting that while Aronimink’s fairways may appear wide, their slopes make them deceptively narrow. He explained that the rough, though not overly long, has a thick blade that traps golfers even when the lie seems manageable. ‘You need to play really good golf to shoot lower than three-under,’ he said, dismissing early speculation that scores would drop significantly. The PGA Championship’s pin placements added to the challenge, with tucked positions making scoring difficult. Rahm criticized earlier suggestions that low scores were inevitable, stating that the course’s firming conditions would prevent such outcomes. His first-round struggles included misjudging a 105-yard downwind shot on the 1st hole, leading to a bogey, but he recovered with precise wedge play on the 2nd. Despite the incident, Rahm maintained composure in his post-round interview, balancing self-criticism with acknowledgment of the course’s demands. His apology reflected accountability, while his technical analysis underscored the PGA Championship’s reputation for testing even top-tier golfers. The moment served as a reminder of the mental and physical precision required in professional golf.
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