Joaquin Niemann’s U.S. Open performance was defined by two numbers: a final-round 66 and a first-round 11. The Chilean star recorded his best-ever finish in a major championship, a tie for seventh, despite absorbing the first-ever two-stroke penalty under the USGA’s Code of Conduct.
The incident occurred on the par-4 6th hole, where two tee shots out of bounds led to a score of nine. That was changed to an 11 on Friday morning after officials penalized him for throwing a club. Niemann admitted his mistake but questioned the severity. He explained his frustration in the moment. “Knowing that the best score I could do was an 8, it kind of frustrated me a lot. I’m not happy doing that. I’m not proud about throwing a golf club. I get I deserve it in a way; I don’t know. But there’s nothing I can do. I feel like I learned from it.”
When asked if he felt the USGA was making an example of him, Niemann was direct. “To be honest, yes. I was not trying to offend anyone. I think it was more something kind of like against me.”
Despite the controversy, Niemann’s response on the course was formidable. He played the final 54 holes in seven-under par, a score that would have challenged for the title. His closing 66 was the lowest round of the day on a difficult course setup, moving him firmly inside the top 10.
For Niemann, the result marks a significant step in his major championship career after 28 attempts. He views the week as progress toward his ultimate objective. “That’s the only direction I’ve seen since I started playing golf, that I always get closer to my goals and my dreams. I know it’s one step forward to that.” He confirmed his primary focus remains clear: “That is obviously winning out here.”
