News

Rahm’s water ball at 11: Is the Spaniard his own worst enemy, or should his caddie have stayed silent?

Published

7 years ago

Mar 19, 2019

Few shots on the course have stunned golf fans and analysts alike more than Jon Rahm’s water ball on the 11th hole while leading the Players Championship on Sunday.

The exchange prior to the shot went viral on social media, which has now been removed by the PGA Tour. With his caddie, Adam Hayes, pleading for Rahm to lay up, the Spaniard pulled rank and proceeded to fire his ball into the water, in a moment of madness which proved a fatal blow in his bid to capture the Players trophy.

Immediately after the incident, announcers called the move “perplexing” as well as explaining how they “didn’t understand any of that,” referring to the seemingly rash decision made by Rahm after what appeared to be a calm and constructive assessment of the situation with his caddie.

Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee went even further than those commentators, calling the fiery 24-year-old’s decision and subsequent water ball “the most baffling decision” in the history of the tournament.

Rahm, however, came to a very different conclusion to what had occurred. With the ball taking a splash, the Spaniard lost his cool and was audibly heard saying “I was so f****** sure the first time,” which could only allude to him believing that his caddie had injected some doubt into his mind, causing the error.

Another water ball at 17 sank his chances entirely, and speaking after the round, Rahm stuck to his guns, believing that he had done the right thing and confirmed how he believed that his caddie’s involvement had hindered him.

“Adam was trying to convince me to go right. When I first got to the ball, I was really sure I could do it. If you give me 10 balls, besides that one, I’ll hit the other nine on land. Unfortunately, I got a little bit of doubt in me.”

Veteran caddie Kip Henley, speaking to GolfDigest, explained that while Hayes and the rest of America knew he was suggesting the right thing, he had no choice but to back down.

“Ninety-eight percent of America looks at that and knows Adam was making the right call. Birdie is great, but par doesn’t kill you, and a good caddie is able to look at the situation without as much emotion as the player.

“The whole time you’re fighting you better be aware where your guy is leaning because if you know he’s not coming over, you need to start backpedaling. You then need to make him feel like it’s a good decision. Everybody does that. You read your guy, and you find a way to change your tune.”

How the incident will affect their future working relationship remains to be seen. But Rahm’s refusal to accept that he may have been better served by listening to his caddie while speaking after the event is only likely to ignite the doubts over the Spaniard’s impetuous temperament.

Related Topics:

Up Next

Morning 9: OWGR point allocation issues | Reed on switch to Titleist irons | Els picks assistants

Don't Miss

Morning 9: Delicate dance of player/caddie disagreement | Reed’s favorite green jacket memory | Tiger’s build to Augusta

Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected]

26 Comments

Cebe Jansen

Mar 21, 2019 at 3:12 am

Playing strategically is not yet one of his strong points. When he develops this, he will win more regularly.

Reply Report comment
Dwind

Mar 20, 2019 at 4:54 pm

Did Rahm ask for his caddies advice?

Reply Report comment
Haston Thornton

Mar 20, 2019 at 4:45 pm

I am a long time caddie and still do. Our job as a caddie is to give our opinion,not just to carry the bag. Not to try and convinced the player to do what we think is a better play. I would have said if you hit it to the right. You can still make a birdie or par,if you hit the shot you want to hit. We could lose a stroke or two. And I would have listened to his thought’s and probably would not have said another word. Now its up to him and we found out that I had a stroke saving idea. In this crazy game Low Score Wins,period.

Reply Report comment
Andrew Taylor

Mar 20, 2019 at 4:23 pm

I would bet $10,000 that Rahm wouldn’t put 9 out of 10 on the green.. who does he think he’s kidding? Only himself.

Reply Report comment
hrfdez

Mar 20, 2019 at 4:08 pm

At the end of the day, the player is responsible for hitting the shot, period!

Reply Report comment
Ballzo

Mar 20, 2019 at 3:25 pm

I remember seeing that all play out. Before he made the decision to go for it I was thinking to myself how hard that shot looked. Bunker, keep it under the trees, water and draw it 20 yards. Even on TV it looked impossible. I was really shocked when he said he was going to hit it. His caddy did the right thing and he maybe should have done more obviously.

Reply Report comment
- OnInTwo
  
  Mar 21, 2019 at 12:43 pm
  
  You forgot to add that the wind was against the shot. In other words, he was playing a draw shot into a slice wind. A two club wind, I think. His shot was short by at least that much. As the adage says “Over water add a club or add two balls.”
  
  Reply Report comment
Jim

Mar 20, 2019 at 3:18 pm

If I was his caddie I would look for another bag. Rahm is going to fire you eventually , get the upper hand on him before it is too late.

Reply Report comment
Rahmbo

Mar 20, 2019 at 9:41 am

Never been a fan of Rahm. I don’t understand why so some people would say he’s fiery when it’s a temper problem. Sure the guy has skills but a good role model for golf. Blames everyone and everything else things don’t go his way.

Reply Report comment
- Rahmbo
  
  Mar 20, 2019 at 1:26 pm
  
  *Sure the guy has skills but NOT a good role model for golf*
  
  Reply Report comment
dave

Mar 20, 2019 at 9:18 am

will be rooting against rahm from now on……when you throw your caddie under the bus for some an idiotic decision you made….

Reply Report comment
C

Mar 20, 2019 at 3:13 am

Why have a caddy who interjects. He should hire a different caddy who doesn’t say anything at all then

Reply Report comment
- Peter McGill
  
  Mar 22, 2019 at 4:32 am
  
  Then they would be call a Yes Man… not a caddie.
  
  Reply Report comment
Wizzo1

Mar 20, 2019 at 2:49 am

It’s easier for Rahm to choke on that shot rather than lay up and choke from 90 yards away. Now he has an excuse! Choking from 90 yards as a tour player= no excuse!

Reply Report comment
Crusher

Mar 20, 2019 at 12:07 am

Rahm f’ed up, plain and simple. Pure BS that he could 9/10 on land. He needed to land. 1/1 on land and his immense ego cost him the tourney. His caddie was 110% right in his advice so, there should be no hard feelings going forward. What Ram needed to ask himself is this: will this one shot cause me to lose the tournament or win it? At that point in the round, he did not need to make that shot to win the tourney and in fat, all he could do was lose the tourney if he did not make the shot

Reply Report comment
Crusher

Mar 20, 2019 at 12:07 am

Raymond f’ed up, plain and simple. Pure BS that he could 9/10 on land. He needed to land. 1/1 on land and his immense ego cost him the tourney. His caddie was 110% right in his advice so, there should be no hard feelings going forward. What Ram needed to ask himself is this: will this one shot cause me to lose the tournament or win it? At that point in the round, he did not need to make that shot to win the tourney and in fat, all he could do was lose the tourney if he did not make the shot

Reply Report comment
Brian

Mar 19, 2019 at 10:57 pm

Can we please rethink how Spanish golfers are described. Whether it’s true or not, every article about Rahm or Sergio (from every golf writer and commentator on the planet, to be fair) contains the word FIERY or its equivalent. I’m not denying that they don’t show emotion, but I’m not sure why the descriptor is only used for Spaniards; it’s getting tired.

Reply Report comment
- F
  
  Mar 20, 2019 at 3:15 am
  
  Seve was fiery. JMOlazabal was fiery.
  
  Reply Report comment
tets

Mar 19, 2019 at 8:33 pm

Rahm is a spoiled crybaby … the caddie was right.. layup, wedge on and make par at worst. He hit the shot, he made the call, he should own. He just went to the top of my least favorite sports figure list

Reply Report comment
geohogan

Mar 19, 2019 at 7:26 pm

To settle this, Rahm and Adam should go back to that bunker, when wind is blowing 15mph, left to right, as it was Sunday and let Rahm have his 10 shots at hooking the ball into the wind over the water.
If he doesnt make the shot 9 out of 10 times, he should apologize to his caddie.

Reply Report comment
- Chuck
  
  Mar 20, 2019 at 1:13 am
  
  I love this comment.
  
  As a complete aside… if young Tour players are going to put this sort of inordinate responsibility on caddies, then I am more glad than ever that the Rules of Golf are cracking down on things like caddies lining players up.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Radim Pavlicek
  
  Mar 20, 2019 at 4:09 am
  
  You cannot win an argument over your wife even if you know you are right…
  
  Reply Report comment
Alex

Mar 19, 2019 at 6:58 pm

Video is still on PGA Tour Twitter:

https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1107442996092362752?s=19

Reply Report comment
- Chuck
  
  Mar 20, 2019 at 1:20 am
  
  Nope. Not any more. Thanks, PGA Tour.
  
  Reply Report comment
Robert

Mar 19, 2019 at 6:09 pm

Obviously Rahm has not seen the Colin Montgomery video in which Colin says you only hit the shot after you have removed all negative thoughts.

Reply Report comment
HKO

Mar 19, 2019 at 4:11 pm

as much as i believe that any player would have agreed to what the caddie—who’d usually be with a bit more objectivity to the situation in general—had to say, i tent to not care too much about the specific player. what a big deal that he splashed and blamed his caddie for infusing a doubt to his mind? grow the eff up. plenty other players to support and cheer in PGA. moving on.

Reply Report comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open

Published

10 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX Tour Photographer made the trip from the Memorial Tournament across the country to the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. Check out links to all the photos below!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

3 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
Wedges
Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase