World No. 8 Jon Rahm avoided a penalty after kicking his driver multiple times during the second round of the U.S. Open, prompting fans to question why Joaquin Niemann had been assessed two strokes for misconduct earlier in the day.

Rahm opened with a bogey-free 68 at Shinnecock Hills, but after four straight bogeys in Round 2, he vented his frustration by dropkicking his driver multiple times following a drive into a fairway bunker on the par-5 16th.

“If Joaquin Niemann was penalized for throwing his club, then Rahm should definitely be assessed the same way,” read one comment on NUCLR GOLF's X post, which featured a video of Rahm's actions.

Earlier in the day, Joaquin Niemann was assessed a two-stroke penalty for “serious misconduct” under Rule 1.2b. Many considered Rahm's actions deserving of a penalty as well.

PGA Tour coach David Woods wrote on X: “So can someone explain like I’m 5 why this wasn’t also a 2-stroke penalty if we’re dinging guys for chucking clubs this week?”

The Player Code of Conduct lists the abuse of player equipment, including intentionally throwing, kicking, damaging, or destroying clubs and golf bags in anger, as unacceptable behavior.

Rahm had also dropped an F-bomb on the 9th hole after missing a putt, and while his actions fall into the category of "unacceptable behavior," the issue has become somewhat irrelevant after the Spaniard missed the cut at 6-over.

Niemann's team appealed the penalty ruling as they believed there was an inconsistency in the application of the Code of Conduct policy.

However, reports from The Athletic highlighted that Niemann did take things a little too far.

The Athletic's exclusive report on the Niemann incident

As Rahm kicked his driver, Rory McIlroy had thrown his club at last year's U.S. Open, but neither was assessed a penalty.

The Athletic's Gabby Herzig detailed Niemann's full outburst, which arguably surpassed both Rahm's and McIlroy's in terms of misconduct.

“Got visibly angry and kicked the white flag that another volunteer used to mark his ball – Continued to kick around the sand – Proceeded to chuck his iron from the fescue area approximately 50 yards to the very edge of the course on the right – Almost did not walk back for the club until a police officer delivered it to him,” wrote The Athletic's Gabby Herzig on X.

Rule 1.2b of the Rules of Golf gives a committee the right to set its own standards regarding the conduct of players.

It's clear that Niemann violated the standards of conduct and was justifiably given the two-stroke penalty.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav