Brooks Koepka is not happy with how the United States played on Day 1 of the Ryder Cup. The Americans were absolutely embarrassed on Friday in Rome.
Europe went 4-0 in the morning session, and then it won one four-ball match and tied three others in the afternoon to take a 6.5-0.5 lead. The United States will have to fight back from the largest first-day deficit in Ryder Cup history after failing to win a match in a single day for just the second time ever.
For a moment, it seemed as though Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler were going to earn the first American point. They led 1 up on the 18th hole, but Jon Rahm drained a 35-foot put for eagle to give Europe a halve.
The Spaniard hit the putt with so much force that it banged into the back of the cup.
Koepka took aim at Rahm following the match.
I mean, I wanted to hit a board and pout just like John Rahm did. But you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we’re adults. Move on.
— Brooks Koepka
Nobody had any idea what he was talking about. Koepka did not provide any context. Nobody was able to follow-up on his bold statement. It was a mystery.
However, a few hours later, internet sleuths discovered the incident in question. Video of Rahm at the U.S. Open shows him hit a board in anger with his putter on his way into the clubhouse at Los Angeles Country Club.
Koepka must have been one of the 200,000ish people to first view the video back in June. He didn’t forget!
The mystery has been solved. Context to Koepka’s shot at Rahm required knowledge of a video from more than three months ago.
It was a savage jab either way, but it is even funnier to know that it was a deep cut. Maybe his quip will light a fire under the Americans, because Team Europe is running away with the Ryder Cup.
The worst-case scenario is that Rahm comes out with a vengeance and uses Koepka’s shot as fuel.