Rory McIlroy has voiced his support for the two-shot penalty handed to Joaquin Niemann at the US Open, emphasizing the importance of setting a proper example on the golf course. Niemann incurred the penalty for throwing his sand wedge in frustration during the opening round at Shinnecock Hills.
Niemann's Penalty for Serious Misconduct
The Chilean golfer was penalized for "serious misconduct" after a quintuple-bogey nine on the sixth hole. Play was suspended due to darkness, and Niemann returned on Friday to complete the hole. Upon signing his scorecard, a referee informed him of the two-shot penalty, turning his nine into an 11. Niemann expressed shock and embarrassment, stating he would "learn from it."
McIlroy's Stance on On-Course Behaviour
McIlroy's comments on temper control resurfaced after the incident. Speaking earlier about Patton Kizzire kicking his putter at the Valspar Championship, McIlroy said: "It can be relatable, but at the same time, you want to try to set a proper example. Like you don't want – you don't want 10-year-old kids punting their putters across the green every time they miss a putt."
Niemann Reacts to the Penalty
Niemann acknowledged his conduct was unacceptable but felt the penalty was harsh. He said: "I knew I had a misbehaviour but I feel like everybody had some, and it's never going to be anything major like two-shot penalty. They considered with the whole committee that it was a right decision to give me a two-shot penalty. Obviously I was trying to argue back, to try to not get the two-shot penalty, but it's their decision." He added: "I feel like I wouldn't be happy seeing players throwing clubs and behaving that way so, yeah, I agree. I'm the first one to judge myself when I don't behave on the golf course – that was a misbehave from my part. I felt like a little bit extra penalised with a two-shot penalty, but it is what it is. I'm going to learn from it."
Niemann's Strong Recovery
Despite the setback, Niemann bounced back with a five-under 65 in the second round, matching the lowest score at that point. He finished the US Open tied for seventh place at one-over, six strokes ahead of McIlroy and five strokes behind champion Wyndham Clark.
Previous Misconduct Cases
Clark himself faced disciplinary action in 2023 after damaging lockers at Oakmont Country Club following a missed cut. He received a suspension, was ordered to donate to charity, cover repair costs, and complete a behavioural improvement programme. These incidents have set a benchmark for the USGA's stricter stance on player misconduct.
