Jon Rahm lashes at grass. Then he apologizes after divot hits man's face

TL;DR

Jon Rahm accidentally hit a volunteer in the face with a divot after a frustrated swing during the PGA Championship. He later apologized for the incident.

Key points

Jon Rahm hit a divot that struck a volunteer.
The incident occurred during the PGA Championship.
Rahm shot a one-under 69 in his first round.
He apologized to the volunteer afterward.
The event was held at Aronimink Golf Club.

Mentioned in this story

Aronimink Golf Club

Jon RahmPGA Championship

Jon Rahm lashes at grass. Then he apologizes after divot hits man's faceNick Piastowski

Jon Rahm was angry, then he was apologetic.

A while later, he was just annoyed. Rahm had finished his PGA Championship first round, where he shot a one-under 69 at Aronimink Golf Club, and a moment on the par-4 7th hole was sticking with him. From the left rough, he hit his second shot over the green, then, in frustration, he lashed at the grass — and his divot hit a volunteer in the face and shoulder.

Rahm was seen apologizing, and a reporter had been curious what happened.

“Thanks for reminding me of that,” Rahm started. “I got a flier 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, took a divot, and unfortunately, I hit a volunteer.

“Yeah, it hit him, and unfortunately it hit him in the shoulder and then the face. 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.”

On the PGA Championship’s website, a video of the sequence showed Rahm hitting over the green, then swiping at the grass. A commentator said: “Oh, and there we go.” Rahn then turned toward the gallery to his left.

“Whether it was my intention or not,” Rahm said afterward, “it was just not good.”

From there on the 7th, he bogeyed, but played two-under golf over his other 17 holes, which included him holing out from 98 yards on the par-4 2nd for an eagle 2.

“I mean, what can I say? It was a phenomenal shot, really good wedge shot,” Rahm said. “I came off that 1st green kicking myself because it was a wrong choice of shot for such a good drive — 105 yards away downwind, it was the wrong shot choice. Go to the next hole, and I have a very similar number, at least I have to play it the same number into the wind. Obviously a lot more committed with the right decision, and hit a great shot.”