US Open 2026: Joaquin Niemann hit with two-shot penalty for first club throw

Joaquin Niemann says he is “not proud” to be the first golfer to be penalized for breaking the new code of conduct introduced for a major championship in 2026.

Chile was handed a two-shot penalty by US Open officials on Friday after completing a fog-delayed first round.

The 27-year-old was penalized for “serious misconduct” under Rule 1.2b when he threw his sand wedge in frustration on the sixth hole after twice hitting the tee shot out of bounds and then making an awkward lie.

That meant Neiman’s nine improved to 11 on the par-four hole and he eventually signed for an 8-over 78 before responding with a five-under 65 in the second round to sit inside the projected cut line at three over par overall.

“I finished my round, signed my scorecard, and then a referee came up to me and said, ‘I need to talk to you,'” Neiman said.

“I knew I had a bad behavior but I think everybody has something and it’s never going to be something as big as a two-shot penalty, you know?

“They considered with the whole committee that giving me a two-shot penalty was the right decision.

“I was trying to argue back but it’s their decision and I think I wouldn’t be happy to see players throwing clubs and behaving like that, yeah, I agree.”

Before reaching the sixth hole, Neiman was said to have made par for his round and had to stay his club A police officer turned him away., outsider

“I hit it twice out of bounds then was pretty disappointed,” he added.

“I told a bad lie, I saw a lot of ants and I was asking the referee if they were fire ants and he said ‘no’.

“I wasn’t mad at him for asking. I think they blew the horn (to suspend play for darkness) but after I hit that shot all the frustration came inside me and I had my club in my hand and I couldn’t resist dropping it. There was nobody there but I’m not proud of it.”

The code of conduct policy has been a major talking point this season Robert MacIntyre of Scotland And Sergio Garcia of Spain Both were reprimanded for their behavior at the Masters in April.