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Rahm 'started crying' after defeating Tiger at Ryder Cup

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Still reeling from an emotional Ryder Cup victory in Paris, Jon Rahm reflected on his clinching moment over Tiger Woods in their singles match, the first time he'd ever played alongside the golf great.

“He was coming towards me with a smile still. I mean, I started crying. I got emotional, tears started coming out of my eyes," Rahm said in an interview with Dylan Dethier of Golf.com, discussing the scene on the 17th green after beating Woods.

"People don't realize how big a moment it was for me," the Spaniard added. "It was the first time I'd ever played with him. And right before I hit that putt someone yelled, 'Do it for Seve!' in Spanish. So I was like, 'whoa.' As if that putt wasn't important enough?"

Rahm defeated Tiger 2&1 to earn a key point for the European side and cap off his Ryder Cup debut.

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

"All year long I was looking forward to the day I was going to play with Tiger Woods, and it didn't happen until singles at the Ryder Cup," Rahm said. "It wasn't the best time, because there's a lot that comes into play with Tiger, right, a lot of memories I have, as he is one the people I grew up idolizing."

According to Dethier, the match meant so much to the 23-year-old that Rahm tracked Woods down during the closing ceremonies to express how much of an honor it was to play against him.

"It meant an incredible moment then and it still does," Rahm concluded. "It's going to be tough to beat that moment in my life."

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