Portstewart, Northern Ireland ….
Former U.S. Open winning Justin Rose handed Jon Rahm some sobering advice declaring the only way the sometimes fiery Spaniard will win a Major is to control his frustration.
Rahm, 22 drew much criticism over his unsporting manners ahead of missing the cut at the U.S. Open at Erin Hills.
Rahm, with a maiden PGA Tour victory, a second to World No. 1 Dustin Johnson in Texas, and a third in Mexico already this year, let his temper get the better of him for the two rounds in rural Wisconsin, and in the company of Rickie Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama.
The actions of the now U.S-based Rahm sent many fans onto social media documenting his hot-tempered ways before he crashed out of the with scores of 76 and 73 to miss the cut by five strokes.
And ahead of teeing up at this week’s Irish Open Irish, Rahm revealed he apologised to both Matsuyama, who finished runner-up, and Fowler.
“What happened at Erin Hills cannot happen again,” he said.
Exciting but sometimes fiery Jon Rahm and reminded by Justin Rose if he is to win a Major he must control his temper.
“I mean, I’m deeply embarrassed about what happened. I apologised to Rickie and Hideki about what I did. I really feel bad if it really affected their game, which both of them shooting 7‑under each round, I don’t think really did. If it ever affected it, I told them that I’m deeply sorry. Really it shouldn’t happen.
“It’s really 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 and I go back, having a bad day like that. It really shouldn’t happen. It’s something I feel bad about.
“It really frustrates me to think about it, because the person that you see on TV doing that, that’s not the person who I am. I’m nothing like that. It’s just something that my emotions get the best of me and shouldn’t happen, and clearly when it happens, I don’t play good golf.
“So, if I want to have a good career and keep my image clean, you know, I need to work on it day‑in and day‑out, no matter how good I’m doing”.
Rahm went to rural Wisconsin touted to create golfing history and become the second Spaniard in succession to win a Major.
But then Rose found himself drawn into the picture and also ahead of this week’s $US 7m event on the Portstewart course and less than five miles from Royal Portrush and where the 2019 Open Championship is being held.
The Englishman captured the 2013 U.S. Open and is also the reigning Olympic Games Gold Medal holder.
“I’ve always done a good job of kind of disguising my frustration but it’s certainly there,” said Rose.
“I would say, the last few years I’ve been a little better at dealing with them myself. I think I’ve always said, like I said, disguised them but not dealt with them but now I probably deal with them so much better than I used to. And who knows if it’s just kind of a growing up thing, or if you just start to get really tired, and getting frustrated is really hard work and tiring, let’s just let it go.
“But it’s good to see passion. It’s good to see fire. It’s good to see it in the young players to a certain point. Obviously speaking now as maybe having been through it and being slightly older, it is a process that is worth working on. I think to be your best and to be the greatest player you can be, you have to master the mental side.
“And all of the talent in the world is great and all of these young guys have it, but the difference in terms of winning the biggest event is the mental side.
“When I had great weeks, U.S. Open, the Olympics, even the Masters, they are all weeks that I felt incredibly calm and when I have been challenged during those weeks I’ve kind of dealt with that moment in the week very well.
“There’s been many other weeks, many, many other weeks where I’ve had certain situations and I’ve dealt with them, as well, and it hasn’t led to a win or a good week.
“So, the mental side is very important”.
