Joaquin Niemann receives historic penalty at US Open
LIV Golf star Joaquin Niemann has made headlines for an unwanted reason, becoming the first player to receive a two-shot penalty under the new code of conduct rules governing major championships in 2026, reports BritPanorama.
The 27-year-old was handed the sanction by officials at the US Open following his fog-delayed opening round on Friday. He was found guilty of “serious misconduct” after throwing his sand wedge in frustration while playing the sixth hole.
Niemann reflected on the incident, stating he is “not proud” of the behaviour that led to the historic punishment. The troubles for the player began while he was at level par, hitting two consecutive tee shots out of bounds, which heightened his frustration.
As play was suspended due to darkness, Niemann decided to strike his shot, allowing his accumulated anger to erupt as he launched his club away from him, although he noted that no one was around at the time.
The sand wedge was reportedly retrieved and returned to him by a police officer. Reflecting on the events, Niemann explained, “I finished my round, signed my scorecard, and then a referee came up to me and said ‘I need to talk to you’. I knew I had a misbehaviour but I feel like everybody had some and it’s never going to be anything major like a two-shot penalty, you know?”
Despite initially contesting the ruling, Niemann accepted the committee’s verdict, adding, “I hit it two times out of bounds then got pretty frustrated. I had a bad lie, I saw a lot of ants and I was just asking the referee if they were fire ants and he said ‘no’.”
“I wasn’t angry asking him,” Niemann stated. “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 to throw it away. There was no one there, but I’m not proud of it.”
The code of conduct policy has become one of the most-discussed topics of the 2026 season, with various high-profile incidents already making headlines. Notably, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and Spain’s Sergio Garcia were both reprimanded for their conduct during The Masters in April, yet neither received the stroke penalties that Niemann faced.
In a sport where precision is paramount, Niemann’s actions serve as a stark reminder of the fine line between passion and professionalism — a juxtaposition that every athlete must navigate, particularly under the scrutiny of the spotlight. This incident may resonate beyond the greens, as discussions around player conduct continue to evolve.
