Brooks Koepka calls European hero Jon Rahm a 'baby' in Ryder Cup dispute

Jon Rahm (left) cemented his status as Spain's latest Ryder Cup star on opening day. Photo: Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapane

Brooks Koepka accused Jon Rahm of «acting like a child» here on the first day of the Ryder Cup, when Europe took a record 6½-1½ lead and the US failed to win even one match.

Luke Donald's team achieved their first victory in the first session, winning 4-0 in the fours. The shocked visitors appeared to have fought off the afternoon four-balls before dramatically seeing their hopes of a winning point die three times in a row on the 18th.

One of them was when world number two Ram scored a goal. 25 feet uphill on the final par-five, after rookie partner Nikolai Hojgaard challenged him to «do what Seve [Ballesteros] would do.»

DO YOU BELIEVE?!

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

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

Rahm was nearly in tears after the putt flew into the air and then fell, forcing a half against Koepka and world No. 1 Scotty Scheffler. But the romanticism was overshadowed when Koepka, the US PGA champion and sole representative of the breakaway LIV golf league, verbally attacked the Spaniard.

“I think Scotty and I got knocked up. . . 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and then lost by two,” said the five-time major winner. «So yeah. I mean, I want to hit the board and pout like Jon Rahm did. But, you know, it is what it is. Act like a kid. But we're adults. We move on.» /p>

It is unknown what incident Koepka was referring to with Rahm, although he is known as one of the most passionate golfers.

Rory McIlroy won two of them, the second by teaming up with Tommy Fleetwood to see off the cracker pair of Xander Schauffel and Patrick Cantlay before joining an inspired Matt Fitzpatrick to move up to sixth after seven and eventually win 5 and 3.

Last time Europe faked this Friday's impressive lead came in 2004 at Oakland Hills, which they won by a then-record score of 18½-9½