Joaquin Niemann Penalty at the U.S. Open

During the opening round of the U.S. Open, Joaquin Niemann faced a two-stroke penalty after an unfortunate display that included seven bogeys in just six holes. A volunteer, Tristan Chan, who observed the incident, noted that Niemann had asked for a relief from a fire ant near his ball but was turned down. Following that, Niemann reportedly grabbed the flag marking his ball and kicked it, sending it into the grass, before throwing his club over a distance of at least 50 yards.

Chan remarked, “It was actually a pretty impressive pitch,” highlighting the oddity of Niemann’s actions. This incident occurred just months after new behavioral guidelines were established for the upcoming 2026 season of major tournaments.

The USGA defines misconduct as actions that significantly diverge from expected conduct in golf. According to their regulations, if a player’s or caddy’s behavior strays too far from what’s considered appropriate, a two-stroke penalty or disqualification could be warranted, depending on various factors such as frequency and severity of the misconduct.

Niemann’s actions have reportedly triggered the need for disciplinary action, though footage of the event has yet to surface. Currently, Niemann is trailing behind the cut line with a first-round score of 78. In the second round, he managed five birdies within the initial nine holes, bringing his score to 4 under for Friday and 4 over for the tournament. He now finds himself just one stroke away from making the cut, which could change as the round progresses.