Why was Joaquin Niemann penalized at the U.S. Open?

Niemann was assessed a two-stroke penalty for serious misconduct under Rule 1.2b after kicking a spotter's flag and throwing his sand wedge 50 yards in frustration during his first round.

Did Joaquin Niemann make the cut at the 2026 U.S. Open?

Yes. Despite an opening-round 78 that included the penalty, Niemann shot a five-under 65 in the second round to finish at three-over par, placing him one shot inside the cutline.

MajorsBy the GolfOdds Editorial TeamJun 19, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

Joaquin Niemann Overcomes Historic Misconduct Penalty with Brilliant 65 at Shinnecock Hills

After becoming the first player penalized under a new majors code of conduct, Joaquin Niemann rallied with a second-round 65 to make the weekend at the U.S. Open.

Shinnecock Hills has a reputation for pushing players to their absolute limits, but Joaquin Niemann's frustration during the opening round of the 2026 U.S. Open resulted in a historic disciplinary ruling. The 27-year-old Chilean became the first golfer penalized under the new major championship code of conduct, receiving a two-stroke penalty for "serious misconduct" under Rule 1.2b. The penalty turned his quintuple-bogey nine on the par-four sixth hole into an 11, forcing him to sign for an eight-over-par 78 on Friday morning. Despite the setback, Niemann is currently priced at +100000 (DraftKings) to pull off an improbable weekend comeback.

The Incident and the Penalty

The infraction occurred on Thursday evening just before play was suspended for darkness. After hitting two tee shots out of bounds on the sixth hole, Niemann was denied relief from what he believed to be a mound of fire ants. Following his next shot, an eyewitness reported that Niemann kicked a spotter's flag and threw his sand wedge roughly 50 yards to the edge of the course. He was informed of the ruling on Friday morning immediately after completing his delayed first round, leaving him with just 37 minutes to compose himself before his second-round tee time. Niemann admitted he spent much of that brief break in tears. "I'm not proud of it," Niemann said of the outburst. "I knew I had a misbehavior, but I feel like everybody had some, and it's never going to anything major like two-shot penalty."

A Spectacular Response

Faced with a quick turnaround and immense frustration, Niemann responded with one of the finest rounds of the day. He carded seven birdies on his way to a five-under 65 in windy conditions, safely securing his place on the weekend at three-over par. His resilient performance keeps him in the mix alongside other notable names in the field, including Wyndham Clark +352 (Pinnacle) and Dustin Johnson +125000 (DraftKings). While Niemann remains a longshot to lift the trophy, his ability to channel his anger into a brilliant second round has kept his tournament alive.

Compare the odds

U.S. Open odds →Wyndham Clark Joaquin Niemann Dustin Johnson

FAQ

Why was Joaquin Niemann penalized at the U.S. Open?: Niemann was assessed a two-stroke penalty for serious misconduct under Rule 1.2b after kicking a spotter's flag and throwing his sand wedge 50 yards in frustration during his first round.
Did Joaquin Niemann make the cut at the 2026 U.S. Open?: Yes. Despite an opening-round 78 that included the penalty, Niemann shot a five-under 65 in the second round to finish at three-over par, placing him one shot inside the cutline.