An Unfortunate Incident During Play
During Thursday's opening round at the PGA Championship held at Aronimink Golf Club, professional golfer Jon Rahm found himself in an unsettling situation. Following a wayward approach shot on the 7th hole, a par-4, the golfer’s frustration was evident. In a moment of irritation, Rahm took an impulsive practice swing through the rough. The resulting divot took flight and struck a volunteer standing near the ropes directly in the face.
Rahm promptly approached the volunteer to check on his condition and offer an immediate apology. Fortunately, the volunteer appeared to be alright despite the impact. The incident occurred during a hole that Rahm eventually bogeyed, moving him to even par for the day.
Rahm Addresses the Mistake
Explaining the sequence of events after his round, Rahm expressed his remorse:
«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. It hit him in the shoulder and then the face, which I couldn't feel any worse. That's why I was there apologizing.»
Tournament Performance and Next Steps
Despite the distraction, Rahm managed to finish his first round with a 1-under 69, positioning himself just two strokes behind the leaders as he headed to the clubhouse. His round included a notable eagle from the fairway on the second hole, followed by a steady streak of eight consecutive pars.
Entering the tournament as the highest-ranked LIV Golf member at No. 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings, Rahm has already secured two victories this season. However, his focus remained on the well-being of the man he struck. He expressed a strong desire to reconnect with the volunteer before the tournament concludes.
«I need to somehow track him down to give him a present because that's inexcusable and for something that could be completely avoidable,» Rahm stated. «Whether it was my intention or not, it was just not good.»