"Pretty Impressive Throw": Joaquin Niemann Penalized Two Shots at U.S. Open

Joaquin Niemann's opening round at the U.S. Open took an unexpected turn Thursday when he was assessed a two-stroke penalty for throwing a club on the 6th hole.

The USGA announced that Niemann was assessed a two-stroke penalty after throwing a club on the 6th hole, an act that officials determined was "serious misconduct" under Rule 1.2b.

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“Joaquin Neimann was assessed two penalty strokes for throwing a club on the 6th hole during Round 1,” the statement from the USGA early Friday said. “This act was determined to be serious misconduct under Rule 1.2b.”

According to reporting from The Athletic's Gabby Herzig, Niemann's frustration boiled over after hitting two balls out of bounds on the hole. A volunteer who witnessed the incident said Niemann kicked a flag used to mark his ball, kicked sand in the area and then launched an iron roughly 50 yards toward the edge of the course.

The penalty adds another wrinkle to what has become one of golf's more persistent questions. Niemann stacked wins at LIV, but major championships remain the one line missing from an otherwise impressive résumé.

At a U.S. Open where every shot matters, losing two of them before signing the card is about as costly as it gets.

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