One star at The Open was given a code-of-conduct warning during his second round on Friday after a poor tee shot on the par-3 15th hole at Royal Birkdale
One Open star tees off on the 15th hole(Image: (David Cannon/Getty Images))
Jon Rahm was given a code-of-conduct warning during his second round at The Open on Friday. Rahm, who shot a 67 to reach four under par, received an official warning for throwing a club after his tee shot on the 15th hole, in accordance with The Open’s serious misconduct policy.
The Spaniard was approached on the 17th tee box by a rules official and told he was receiving the warning. In a statement, the R&A said: “Jon Rahm was issued with an official warning for throwing a club after his tee shot on the 15th hole under The Open serious misconduct policy.”
While Rahm said: “It was just a bad shot. Actually on the tee, it was beautiful, left-to-right wind, perfect distance for a 6-iron for me, aim at the left bunker and just make a driving range swing that I’ve made hundreds of thousands of times, and it was just such a bad miss.
Before he added: “I wasn’t thinking about [a potential warning]. If I try to alter who I am too much, it might cost me a little bit on the course. But certainly shouldn’t have moments like the one on 15; I get it.”
The Code of Conduct policy is still relatively new in professional golf and the sport’s governing bodies collaborated to create the policy to create a standard of decorum.
And three options were available to the R&A: a two-shot penalty, disqualification or a warning, which they opted for.
The incident wasn’t the only talking point to emerge from day two at Royal Birkdale as Bryson DeChambeau was controversially handed a two-shot penalty after shooting a 66.
The two-time major champion was adjudged to have improved his stance as he attempted to escape from the rough earlier in his round.
Bryson DeChambeau is driven by a rules offical on a buggy to the recorders area(Image: (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images))
Giving his view on the incident, former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley told The Golf Channel: “I think it’s a breach.
“The first five seconds when he got to the ball, that’s when the breach happened. He walked up, saw his lie, and his first thing to do was to stand behind the ball.
“In standing behind the ball, he bedded down the grass behind it, which in turn was going to improve his back swing. For me, it’s a clear breach. Bryson was obviously not agreeing with it, in a very stubborn way. That’s stamping down grass behind the ball.
“Your line of play is not just towards your target. It’s also your backswing. He’s standing right there where his club should be going back.”
While DeChambeau said: “Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it.”
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