Rahm's Surprise Praise for Fellow Golfer at U. S. Open

The U. S. Open at Oakmont was a big deal this year. It was a chance for golfers to show off their skills. One player who stood out was not the winner, but Jon Rahm. He had a lot to say about his fellow golfer, Carlos Ortiz. This was not the first time Rahm was in the news. Earlier this year, he had a famous temper tantrum at Augusta National. This time, though, it was about his sportsmanship. Rahm had a lot of good things to say about Ortiz. He talked about how Ortiz was a great putter and had a positive attitude on the course. Rahm even said he had never seen Ortiz have a bad day. This was surprising because Rahm and Ortiz play for different golf leagues. Ortiz had to work hard to even get to Oakmont. He had to qualify for the tournament. His rank in the world golf rankings almost kept him out. But he played well and finished tied for 4th. Ortiz's performance was impressive. He hit nearly 80% of the greens in his final round. His putting was not perfect, but it was good enough to finish 27th in the strokes gained average for putting. This was a big deal because Oakmont's greens are known for being fast. Rahm's comments showed he respects Ortiz. He talked about Ortiz's energy and happiness on the course. This was a big deal because Rahm has won the U. S. Open before. He did not have to qualify like Ortiz did. Other LIV golfers did not do as well. Brooks Koepka finished 12th, which was better than his previous performances this year. Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson both missed the cut. Mickelson said this might be his last U. S. Open. The U. S. Open was a big test for these golfers. It showed that even when players are from different leagues, they can still respect each other. Rahm's words about Ortiz were a reminder of that. It was a surprise to many, but it was a good reminder of what sportsmanship is all about.