Niemann Penalized Two Strokes for Club Toss at US Open

Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann faced a two-stroke penalty during his opening round at the US Open held at Shinnecock Hills on Friday. The penalty was imposed after he threw his club in frustration on the par-four sixth hole.

Troubled Start at Shinnecock Hills

Niemann, competing as part of the LIV Golf series, struggled significantly on the sixth hole of the notoriously challenging Southampton course. He hit two drives out of bounds and, after missing the green on his approach shot, tossed his club in exasperation. Tournament organizers deemed this act as “serious misconduct,” resulting in a septuple bogey for the hole. Ultimately, Niemann finished the round with an eight-over par score of 78.

Reflecting on the incident, Niemann acknowledged his frustration, stating that he had hit two poor shots out of bounds. He expressed disappointment in his behavior, emphasizing that he is typically self-critical when it comes to his conduct on the golf course. Niemann noted that while he felt somewhat harshly penalized by the two-shot deduction, he recognized it as a learning opportunity.

Niemann’s Performance and Tournament Standing

After the first two rounds, Niemann found himself at three-over par, having rebounded with a five-under par 65 on Friday. His performance showcased resilience, as he aimed to improve his standing in the tournament.

In contrast, Wyndham Clark emerged as a formidable competitor, establishing a four-shot lead heading into the weekend. Clark reached the halfway point of the tournament at seven under par, demonstrating consistent play throughout the rounds. The 2023 US Open champion had previously made headlines for his emotional outburst after missing the cut at the tournament in Oakmont last year.

Clark’s rounds included a six-under-par 64 in the first round and a one-under-par 69 in the second. He attributed his success to a conservative approach to the greens, which he identified as a significant challenge of the course.

Leaderboard Highlights

The leaderboard featured notable performances from several players. Two-time major winner Xander Schauffele, 2022 champion Matt Fitzpatrick, American Sam Stevens, and South Korea’s Tom Kim were tied for second place at three under par.

Clark managed to offset a bogey at the par-four ninth hole with birdies at the 12th and 13th holes. However, he encountered difficulties later in the round, landing in bunkers twice, leading to another bogey on the par-five 16th. He concluded the round with a remarkable 33-foot putt for a birdie on the par-four 18th.

Despite his strong performance, Clark faced historical challenges, as no second-round leader at the last four US Opens at Shinnecock has gone on to win the tournament.

Challenges for Top Players

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, both pre-tournament favorites, found themselves on the periphery of contention. They were seven shots off the lead, tied for 11th place at even par. McIlroy expressed optimism, stating that if there was a course where a player could still contend while seven shots back, it would be this one.

Scheffler, ranked world number one, is attempting to complete the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors, having won the PGA Championship and British Open last year. He noted the unpredictable nature of the golf course and its potential to change quickly.

Notable Struggles Among Competitors

Dustin Johnson, a former champion and Clark’s playing partner, experienced a significant decline after a strong opening round. Johnson, who had started the tournament with a score of 66, fell down the leaderboard with a seven-over-par 77, marked by three bogeys, a double bogey, and a quadruple bogey.

Other LIV Golf competitors, including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, also faced challenges, missing the cut along with defending champion J.J. Spaun and Australian golfer Adam Scott, who was competing in his 100th consecutive major.

The cut for the tournament was set at four over par, allowing 67 professionals and five amateurs to advance.

As reported by www.arnnewscentre.ae.

Explore the latest digital editions of FAME Delivered in the Magazine section: https://famedelivered.com/magazine/

Published on 2026-06-20 09:21:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk