Jon Rahm frustrated by slow Irish Open
Jon Rahm showed visible frustration during the opening round of the 2026 Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links Ireland in Doonbeg. Strong winds and repeated waits slowed the afternoon groups considerably.
Rahm played alongside Shane Lowry and Patrick Reed on September 10. Sky Sports apologized after a microphone captured his frustrated reaction during a round that ended with Rahm at even-par 70.
Rory McIlroy logs six-hour round
The opening round moved far more slowly than usual, as wind, course layout, and a 138-player field led to repeated waits. Rory McIlroy spent six hours and six minutes completing his opening 69.
McIlroy said he could not remember a competitive round taking longer. Gusts reached about 55 kilometers per hour, while groups sometimes waited together on tee boxes for greens ahead to clear.
Jon Rahm waits at reachable fourth
Rahm faced a long delay at the par-5 fourth hole, where the green was reachable in two shots. His group waited while the players ahead prepared to attempt to reach the putting surface.
The fourth is listed at 592 yards and played downwind during the opening round. Those conditions encouraged players to wait before hitting, creating a bottleneck that slowed groups moving through the early holes.
Jon Rahm raises wind concerns
Rahm spoke with officials at the par-4 fifth as strong winds affected balls on the greens. Gusts reached about 55 kilometers per hour during the opening round at Doonbeg on Thursday.
Frederic Lacroix saw his marked ball blown off the 13th green. Because he had already marked its position, he was permitted to replace it before continuing his opening round safely there.
Jon Rahm prompts broadcast apology
Rahm’s most visible frustration came at the par-5 eighth after a short birdie attempt stayed out. A broadcast microphone captured his reaction, prompting Sky Sports to apologize to viewers during coverage.
The moment followed several hours of stop-and-start golf. Lowry said his group had been on the course for three hours by the eighth tee, showing how unusual the pace had become.
Jon Rahm opens with even-par 70
Rahm completed his first round in 70 strokes, leaving him at even par. Joaquin Niemann posted a course-record 65 to lead at 5-under, placing Rahm five shots behind Niemann after the opening round.
Shane Lowry opened with 67 and finished two strokes behind Niemann, while Rory McIlroy carded 69. Both remained ahead of Rahm after a windy opening round marked by unusually long waits.
Rory McIlroy calls round his longest
McIlroy said he could not remember a competitive round taking longer than Thursday’s opener. He needed six hours and six minutes to complete a 1-under 69 at Doonbeg that day overall.
He said the layout made it difficult to maintain rhythm because players repeatedly stopped and started. Strong winds and the 138-player field added congestion, with multiple groups sometimes waiting together on the same tee.
Shane Lowry describes one-hour slowdown
Shane Lowry said his group hit only two full shots during one hour of Thursday’s opening round. He played alongside Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed in the afternoon wave at Doonbeg.
Lowry said every competitor faced the same conditions and that players had to continue. His group spent about three hours reaching the eighth tee during the unusually slow opening round.
Doonbeg layout contributes to backups
Doonbeg’s layout contributed to Thursday’s delays because several holes required groups to wait for the greens ahead to clear. McIlroy said the course made it difficult for players to establish a steady rhythm.
The championship setup measured 6,838 yards and played to par 70. Strong Atlantic winds altered normal club distances, with McIlroy describing one 138-yard approach that required his usual 190-yard seven iron.
Jon Rahm returns as two-time champion
Rahm entered Doonbeg as a two-time Irish Open champion after victories at Portstewart in 2017 and Lahinch in 2019. His six-stroke triumph at Portstewart delivered his first European Tour title.
Rahm reached an agreement to return to the DP World Tour in May 2026. He must make five tour appearances during the season to remain eligible for Europe’s 2027 Ryder Cup team.
Fun fact: Doonbeg was considered for a golf course as far back as 1892, but poor local transport led planners to choose Lahinch instead.
Jon Rahm shoots 67 in second round
Rahm carded a second-round 67 on Friday, improving by three strokes from his opening 70. He reached 3-under through 36 holes and comfortably advanced to the weekend at Doonbeg.
Shane Lowry led at 11-under after posting a course-record 62 with nine birdies and one bogey. Rahm ended the second round eight shots behind the leader after 36 completed holes.
Shane Lowry sets Doonbeg course record
Shane Lowry posted an 8-under 62 on Friday, the lowest round recorded at Doonbeg. His score moved him to 11-under and gave him a three-stroke lead after 36 completed holes overall.
Haotong Li, Jacob Skov Olesen, and Niklas Norgaard shared second at 8-under. Jon Rahm stood at 3-under, while defending champion Rory McIlroy reached the weekend at 2-under after completing Friday’s round.
The Irish Open story highlights how public scrutiny can affect athletes. Check out why Vanessa Trump changed Tiger Woods’ life after his legal troubles.
Jon Rahm improves during Friday round
Rahm’s frustration occurred during an opening round marked by widespread delays. McIlroy needed six hours and six minutes to finish, while Lowry said his group managed only two full shots during one hour.
Rahm responded with a 67 on Friday to reach 3-under through two rounds. Lowry went lower with a course-record 62 and took a three-stroke lead into the weekend at Doonbeg overall.
LIV Golf owes players at least $45 million after its bankruptcy filing, exposing the financial strain the league faces and the uncertainty surrounding player payments during its restructuring.
Jon Rahm’s frustration showed how difficult slow play can become when wind and course design add long waits. Should professional golf do more to speed up tournament rounds? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
