Joaquin Niemann has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his two-shot penalty at the U.S. Open after fellow LIV Golf star Jon Rahm avoided disciplinary action in a separate incident during the championship.
Niemann became one of the biggest talking points of the week at Shinnecock Hills after tournament officials assessed him a two-shot penalty for serious misconduct following an angry outburst during his opening round.
The Chilean’s score was adjusted after officials determined that his actions violated Rule 1.2b, which governs player conduct and sportsmanship. The ruling ultimately damaged his chances of making a run up the leaderboard and sparked debate throughout the golf world.
However, discussions intensified after Rahm escaped punishment following a separate incident that also drew attention from fans and commentators.
Speaking after the championship, Niemann admitted he understood why some people were questioning the differing outcomes.
“People are always going to compare situations,” Niemann said. “I can only focus on what happened in my case and respect the decision that was made.”
Niemann was penalized after a frustrating sequence on the sixth hole where multiple shots found trouble. Witnesses reported that the LIV Golf star threw a club during the incident, leading tournament officials to intervene.
Rahm, meanwhile, was involved in a separate moment earlier in the major season that drew scrutiny but was ultimately deemed accidental by officials, resulting in no disciplinary action.
While some fans viewed the situations as similar, Niemann chose not to criticize either Rahm or tournament organizers.
“I have a lot of respect for Jon and for the officials,” Niemann explained. “Every situation is different, and they’re the ones responsible for reviewing all the facts.”
The former PGA Tour winner admitted that emotions got the better of him during the difficult round and reiterated that he accepts responsibility for his actions.
“Looking back, there are things I would do differently,” Niemann said. “The U.S. Open is one of the toughest tests in golf, and sometimes frustration can build up. That’s not an excuse, but it’s the reality.”
The controversy comes during the first season of golf’s stricter code of conduct policy, which gives officials greater authority to penalize players for behavior deemed contrary to the spirit of the game.
Niemann’s case became one of the highest-profile examples of the new rules being enforced at a major championship.
Despite the disappointment, the Chilean insisted that he has already moved on from the incident and remains focused on the remainder of the season.
“You learn from moments like this,” he said. “My focus now is getting back to playing the golf I know I’m capable of and helping my team compete.”
While debate over consistency and player discipline is likely to continue, Niemann made it clear that he has no intention of dwelling on the ruling.
For now, the LIV Golf star is looking ahead rather than backward, hoping that his golf—not controversy—will be the story the next time he tees it up on one of the sport’s biggest stages.