U.S. Open 2026: Joaquin Niemann hit with rare two-stroke penalty at Shinnecock, and the details are wild
Kate McShane
Joaquin Niemann was assessed a two-stroke penalty during the first round of the 2026 U.S. Open for "serious misconduct" on the par-4 sixth hole at Shinnecock Hills.
Niemann, who did not complete his opening round on Thursday, hit two shots out-of-bounds at the sixth, his 15th hole of the round, finally putting one in play with his fifth stroke into thick fescue. He hit his sixth shot before the horn blew for the suspension of play due to darkness.
He returned Friday morning and made an 11, which looked rather confusing on his Shot Tracker on usopen.com:
After he finished his round, the USGA cleared up the confusion. Niemann was given a two-stroke penalty for "throwing a club" at the sixth during Round 1. "This act was determined to be serious misconduct under Rule 1.2b," the USGA wrote in a note to the media.
That explains the "Shot 7: Penalty" and "Shot 8: Penalty" on Niemann's Shot Tracker, assessed where Niemann hit his sixth shot Thursday evening, which is when the club throw, among other things, took place. There is no video of the incident.
In 2019, the USGA adopted a new "Code of Conduct" policy, and this year the organizations running the men's majors have made a point that they were adopting and inforcing a new set of standards. The policy refers back to Rule 1.2b in the Rules of Golf, which has two bullet points:
- Sets the Committee’s own standards for how players should conduct themselves, and
- May set penalties less than disqualification (such as a one-stroke penalty or a two-stroke penalty/loss of hole penalty) for a player’s breach of those standards.
Whatever Niemann did, it met this criteria. He wound up shooting a 78 in Round 1.
When asked for further clarification what constitutes "serious misconduct" under Rule 1.2b, the USGA said this was the criteria it was going off of:
"Serious Misconduct: If a player’s (or their caddie’s) behavior is so far removed from what is expected in the spirit of the game of golf, in accordance with Rule 1.2b, the Chief Referee, in consultation with the Championship Director, may apply a penalty of two strokes or disqualification, taking account of the frequency, impact, intent and severity of the misconduct."
On Friday, The Athletic talked to Tristan Chang, a U.S. Open volunteer who said he witnessed the incident. According to The Athletic story, Chang said that after Niemann's fifth shot found the native area, he spoke to a rules offical in hopes of getting a relief from fire ants near his ball. Chang said Niemann was not granted the relief and was upset about it. Niemann proceeded, according to Chang, to kick the flag that had been marking the ball, kick the grass, and throw his club at least 50 yards.
"It was a pretty impressive throw, actually,” Chang told The Athletic.
The bizarre moment echoed increasing concerns about the code of conduct at golf’s highest-profile events. Outbursts by the likes of Robert MacIntyre and Sergio Garcia at the Masters last month drew official reprimands and calls for stricter behavioural standards on the golf course.
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