Editor’s note: Check back for updates as play continues in Round 2
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – Joaquin Niemann birdied five of his first six holes in Round 2 at Shinnecock Hills and posted a 5-under 65 to get himself back in the mix at the 126th U.S. Open. Under any circumstances, that’s a round worth talking about. Given what preceded it, it’s something else entirely.
“Everything was on,” Niemann said of the early birdie barrage. “Hit great tee shots. I kind of went out with a pretty aggressive mindset. Sometimes, especially in these tournaments, could go the other way, and this time it worked.”
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On Thursday night, Niemann made an 11 on the par-4 sixth hole — his 15th of the first round — hitting two tee shots out of bounds before compounding the damage with a club throw that the USGA deemed a two-shot penalty for misconduct. He finished his remaining three holes Friday morning, signed his card, and was informed of the penalty shortly after. He had 37 minutes before he teed off again.
“Yeah, it was hard,” Niemann said. “Took me probably 30 minutes to get over it, then two minutes to hit some tee shots, two putts, and then go out.”
Joaquin Niemann hits a tee shot on Friday at the 2026 U.S. Open. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/LIV Golf)
On the penalty, Niemann was direct and took full ownership.
“I’m not someone that likes to be in that behavior,” he said. “I’m the first one to judge myself when I don’t behave on the golf course. That was a misbehavior from my part.”
He explained that frustration had built over a brutal stretch — two out-of-bounds tee shots, a bad lie, and a late-evening tee time that left his body feeling less than ready. When it all converged, the sand wedge left his hand. He acknowledged initially pushing back when the committee delivered the penalty before ultimately accepting it.
“I wouldn’t be happy seeing players throwing clubs and behaving that way,” he said. “So yeah, I mean, I agree.”
What carried him through was the people around him.
“I think with just a good team around me,” he said. “Finished the round, I have four or five people on my team around me. I was frustrated. They were trying to get me up. I just tried to do my best.”
He did considerably better than that.
JOHNSON FADES LATE
Dustin Johnson entered Friday with a share of second place and all the momentum that came with it. The 4Aces GC captain held his ground through the first 10 holes, turning at even par for the day, before Shinnecock Hills had its say. Johnson struggled over his final eight holes, carding a second-round 77 to fall to 3 over. He will make the cut, but the early promise of Thursday evening gave way to a difficult afternoon.
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, both of whom entered Friday with a chance to contend, found themselves on the wrong side of the cut line as play continued during the late wave. Rahm followed his opening 68 with a difficult 78, leaving him at 6 over. DeChambeau shot a second-round 75 to sit at 5 over. In the late afternoon with the cut projected at +4 per Data Golf — though there was a 38% chance it moves to 3 over — both are in jeopardy of an early exit.
OTHER LIV GOLF PLAYERS RD. 2 SCORES
Laurie Canter: 2-over 72 (4-over total)
Carlos Ortiz: 4-over 74 (6-over total)
David Puig: 2-over 72 (9-over total)
Check back for updates as play continues Friday