Brandel Chamblee has voiced strong opinions after the USGA penalized Joaquin Niemann with two strokes for serious misconduct during his opening round at the US Open. Niemann threw his sand wedge in frustration after hitting two tee shots out of bounds on the par-four sixth hole at Shinnecock Hills.
Chamblee Points Finger at Tiger Woods
Speaking on the Golf Channel, Chamblee argued that Tiger Woods set a poor example for younger players. He noted that legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Watson never threw clubs or used profanity, while Woods frequently did. Chamblee said, "Tiger Woods, the greatest player ever, we all love him. Everybody got rich off of him, but he was one of the most profane golfers to ever play the game."
Chamblee added that today's players, whom he called "Tiger's progeny," often use profanity and throw clubs on the PGA Tour. He praised the new code of conduct, saying, "It's great that this code of conduct has been passed. It is great that it's sending a message to the players."
Niemann Accepts Penalty but Disagrees
Niemann, who finished his delayed first round with an eight-over 78, accepted the penalty but felt it was harsh. He said, "I feel like I wouldn't be happy seeing players throwing clubs and behaving that way so, yeah, I agree. I'm the first one to judge myself when I don't behave on the golf course - that was a misbehave from my part. I felt like a little bit extra penalised with a two-shot penalty, but it is what it is. I'm going to learn from it."
The 27-year-old responded well in his second round, shooting a 65 to make the cut on three over par. He admitted the penalty motivated him to play better.
