Joaquin Niemann became the first player to receive a two‑shot penalty at the US Open after he hurled his sand wedge on the sixth hole. The Chilean, 27, had already hit two tee shots out of bounds and struggled with an awkward lie before the official penalty raised his score from nine to eleven, pushing him to an eight‑over 78.

The incident unfolded after a fog‑delayed first round. Niemann argued with a referee over the condition of ants on the green, then lost composure and threw his club. Officials upheld the rule 1.2b decision, citing “serious misconduct.” The penalty marked a rare enforcement of the 2026 major‑championship conduct code, echoing similar reprimands at The Masters.

Niemann finished the round at +8 but rebounded with a five‑under 65 in the second round, keeping him just inside the projected cut line at +3 overall. The enforcement underscores the strict application of the new code and signals that gatekeepers will not tolerate reckless behavior on the course.