Spanish golf star Jon Rahm had a scary moment at the PGA Championship after a frustrated swing accidentally hit an elderly volunteer standing near the crowd at Aronimink Golf Club on Thursday. Videos from the course quickly spread online and showed Rahm looking shocked right after the incident happened. The two-time major winner later admitted he felt terrible about what took place and said he wanted to personally make things right with the volunteer.
The moment came during the opening round when Rahm was already having a difficult day on the course. After an approach shot on the seventh hole went too far, the former Masters champion reacted in frustration and swung through the rough. Instead of just brushing the grass, Rahm accidentally ripped out a large divot. The piece of turf flew toward the gallery and struck the volunteer in the shoulder before also hitting his face. Rahm immediately walked over and apologized. Later, while speaking to reporters after the round, he again accepted responsibility and said the incident should never have happened.
Jon Rahm Apologizes After Volunteer Is Hit During PGA Championship Round
“I got a flyer on my second shot that went long. It’s not a good spot. Just out of frustration, I tried to make an air swing, just over the grass, and I wasn’t looking,” Jon Rahm said during his press conference. “[I] took a divot, and unfortunately, I hit a volunteer.”
The 31-year-old golfer then explained exactly how the accident unfolded and why he felt so bad afterward. “Unfortunately it hit him in the shoulder and then the face,” Rahm added. “Which, I couldn’t feel any worse. That’s why I was there apologizing.”
“I need to somehow track him down to give him a present because that’s inexcusable and for something that could be completely avoidable. Whether it was my intention or not, it was just not good.”
PGA of America’s Code of Conduct and No Penalty for Rahm
The PGA of America recently introduced a new Player Code of Conduct to deal with poor behavior during tournaments. Because of that, many fans online wondered if Rahm could face punishment for the incident. However, tournament officials later confirmed no warning or penalty would be given because they believed the act was accidental.
PGA of America Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh had earlier explained that the conduct policy was created to protect the image of the sport and make sure players behave professionally during major events. “It’s really for the good of the game that we’re implementing it to try and make sure everyone is behaving appropriately, professionally, and as we would want our children and people watching to see the major championship,” Haigh said.
A spokesperson later told The Athletic that the situation involving Rahm did not qualify as a conduct violation because there was no harmful intent behind the action. “Because there seemed to be no intent and that it was accidental, it was not a conduct violation,” the spokesperson explained.
Even though no punishment was handed out, the incident became one of the biggest talking points from the opening day of the PGA Championship, especially after videos of the moment spread widely across social media.
