Joaquín Niemann receives two‑shot penalty at U.S. Open

Chile’s Joaquín Niemann was assessed a two‑stroke penalty during the opening round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills after he threw his club about 50 yards on the sixth hole. Officials ruled the act a serious breach of the new major‑championship code of conduct (Rule 1.2b), making him the first player penalised under the policy. The penalty turned a nine‑stroke hole into an eleven, leaving him with an 78 (+8) for the round.

Niemann rebounded on Saturday, firing a five‑under‑par 65 to make the cut and climb to +3 ahead of moving day. His response was cited by commentators as a demonstration of resilience despite the disciplinary action.

The incident has drawn broader discussion about player behaviour, with analysts such as Brandel Chamblee urging a return to traditional golf etiquette and former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley supporting the stricter enforcement of conduct rules.