Jon Rahm struck a clump of grass on the golf course and then struck a conciliatory tone during his first-round press conference Thursday at the PGA Championship after that chunk of turf struck a volunteer in the face.
The moment was a complete accident after Rahm swung his club in frustration on the seventh hole after he hit an 170-yard approach shot that was headed straight for the pin but went past and off the green at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
Rahm finished the first day of the tournament 1-under 69.
Jon Rahm of Spain plays a shot on the 16th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Getty Images “I got a flier on my second shot that went long. It’s not a good spot, and just out of frustration I tried to make an air swing just over the grass, and I wasn’t looking,” Rahm said after the round. “Took a divot, and unfortunately, it hit a volunteer. Unfortunately, it hit him in the shoulder and then the face. I couldn’t feel any worse. That’s why I was there apologizing.
“I somehow need to track him down and give him a present because that’s inexcusable for something that could be completely avoidable, whether it’s my intention or not it was just not good.”
Rahm was spotted with the volunteer after it happened, and put his hand on the man’s shoulder and spoke with him for several minutes.
The person did have grass stains on his jacket, The Athletic reported.
Jon Rahm of Spain lines up a putt on the seventh green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania Getty Images It appeared that Rahm managed to avoid any sort of penalty related to a new player code of conduct rule that states a player may be given a warning or face other punishment if they do something that is considered “egregious.”
A PGA of America spokesperson told The Athletic that Rahm was not issued a warning since it didn’t meet the criteria for the rule.
“Because there seemed to be no intent and that it was accidental, it was not a conduct violation,” the spokesperson said.
