A sanction that marked the day
Joaquín Niemann experienced a moment of tension at the United States Open. At the end of his first round, the Chilean made a 9 on the 6th hole — which became an 11 after the penalty — after throwing his club out of frustration. The USGA did not hesitate: it imposed two penalty strokes under Rule 1.2b on unsportsmanlike conduct.
The policy, tightened in recent years, applies to incidents such as battering or unacceptable language. Niemann was the second case in three majors, after Sergio García in the Masters. “There’s no one there. I’m not proud,” the golfer said.
The response was unforgettable
But the story didn’t end there. Just 37 minutes after learning of the sanction, Niemann went out to the second round and shot 65, with birdies in five of the first six holes. He became the first player in 97 years to score a 10 or worse on a hole and still make the cut.
“I felt a little over-penalized, but it is what it is. I’m going to learn from it,” he declared. “It definitely helped me have a better round today.”
The incident occurred at the end of the first round, delayed by fog. A commissioner reported that Niemann kicked the flag and the grass, and described the throw as “pretty impressive.” There is no public video of the moment.
Niemann, 27, has been competing in LIV Golf since 2022. Despite the setback, his recovery ability left its mark on the tournament.
