Overview
- Niemann became frustrated on the par-4 sixth at Shinnecock Hills, driving two balls out of bounds, kicking course markers and—according to a volunteer—throwing an iron about 50 yards during Round 1.
- The USGA announced on Friday that officials applied a two-stroke penalty under Rule 1.2b for 'serious misconduct,' which increased his sixth-hole total and was added to his signed opening-round 78.
- The conduct rule gives the Committee discretion to punish breaches with penalties ranging from one stroke up to disqualification and specifies that frequency, impact, intent and severity guide tougher sanctions.
- No public video of the outburst has been released, so reporting relies on a volunteer’s eyewitness account and the USGA statement, and critics have pointed to past unpenalized club throws in comparisons.
- The decision underscores that the 2026 majors’ new code of conduct will be enforced and could affect players’ behavior and results this week, while Niemann’s status as a leading LIV Golf player adds attention to the ruling.