“He said in the text, and I’m paraphrasing here, ‘That first green is looking like a walk in the park,’ or something like that right now,” Rahm said at the green jacket ceremony on the 18th green. “Ten minutes before I four-putted to started the tournament.”
The crowd erupted in laughter.
“So, thank you Zach,” Rahm continued as he smiled. “Don’t ever do that again, please.”
Ertz almost immediately shared a clip of the speech and responded to Rahm’s request.
“I apologize for absolutely nothing!” Ertz tweeted. “You can expect these texts every major going forward my friend!”
Recently retired NFL Pro Bowler JJ Watt also came forward with the actual screenshots of the texts, showing the message was sent to Rahm in a group chat with the two former Arizona Cardinals teammates. They are regular golfing buddies in Scottsdale, and given how all three athletes had children in 2022, their group chat was aptly named “Birdies & Babies.”
“Let’s have a day Jon!! Start fast!!” Ertz’ first text read on Thursday morning.
“Let’s go Jon!!” Watt replied. “Pretend you’re playing with Zach and I. You’ll set the course record.”
Then Ertz added the message in question which read, “First hole green looks like a walk in the park.”
About an hour later, Ertz texted Watt separately about what had transpired on the first green.
“4 putt on the putt to start the round… not ideal,” the former Philadelphia Eagle said.
“Horrendous,” Watt replied. “I said pretend you’re playing WITH us, not like your playing LIKE us.”
Jack Hirsh is the Associate Equipment Editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.