Golf Etiquette Under Scrutiny

Brandel Chamblee raised concerns about the unruly behavior displayed by some modern golfers, pointing out that the traditional gentlemanly conduct of the sport seems to be declining.

This discussion heated up after Sergio Garcia’s incident at the Masters in April, where he smashed his driver against a cooler, and Joaquin Niemann faced a penalty for throwing his club at the U.S. Open recently.

“There’s a lot of foul language on the PGA Tour these days,” Chamblee commented on Golf Channel, highlighting that club throwing and destruction of tee markers is becoming routine. He expressed disbelief that players seem to escape penalties for cursing, given the frequency with which they do it.

He specifically called out Jon Rahm for his outburst after missing a putt during a recent tournament.

Chamblee reflected on the conduct of legendary golfers like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, noting that they seldom resorted to foul language or fit of anger on the course.

“I’m not trivializing this,” he said. “As someone who’s played, I know how intense it can be. I’ve lost my cool as well. But now, with cameras rolling everywhere, the pressure is even greater. These players enjoy significant financial rewards, yet it seems they’re not handling the spotlight very well.”

At 63, Chamblee has one PGA Tour win and has been an analyst for over two decades.

“Staying calm during the game is crucial,” he said. “If you’re throwing clubs and swearing while being watched globally, that feels like a missed opportunity to demonstrate professionalism. Imagine taking your kids to a tournament only to face a slew of expletives.” He questioned why these players aren’t adhering to a code of conduct.

Windham Clark faced suspension after striking his locker in frustration during the 2025 U.S. Open, while Niemann, the latest to step out of line, encountered a two-shot penalty. He expressed frustration over a denied relief from fire ants and reacted by kicking the flag marker, subsequently throwing his club roughly 50 yards.

Niemann admitted, “I hit it out of bounds twice due to bad swings. It is frustrating for sure. I’m not someone who typically behaves this way, and I often judge my own actions on the course.” He felt that the two-shot penalty might have been a tad excessive but was determined to learn from the experience and improve his game.