Jon Rahm’s temper exploded in dramatic fashion at the PGA Championship — and an elderly volunteer ended up paying the price.
The fiery Spanish golf star found himself at the center of controversy Thursday after wild footage showed him accidentally blasting a chunk of turf straight into the face of an older volunteer during a meltdown on the course at Aronimink.
Rahm, 31, was already having a rough day when things spiraled on the seventh hole.
After sending an approach shot flying too far past the green, the frustrated golfer angrily swung his club through the thick rough in what appeared to be a rage-filled practice motion. But instead of just venting, Rahm ripped up a massive divot that launched into the crowd.
The chunk of dirt and grass struck an elderly volunteer in the shoulder before smacking him in the face, according to videos that quickly spread online.
Fans watching nearby appeared stunned as Rahm instantly realized what had happened.
The two-time major champion quickly apologized on the course before later giving an emotional explanation during his post-round press conference.
“I got a flyer on my second shot that went long. It’s not a good spot,” Rahm admitted. “Just out of frustration, I tried to make an air swing over the grass, and I wasn’t looking. I took a divot, and unfortunately, I hit a volunteer.”
Rahm said he felt terrible after realizing the volunteer had been struck.
“Unfortunately it hit him in the shoulder and then the face,” he continued. “I couldn’t feel any worse. That’s why I was there apologizing.”
The golfer even said he now wants to track the man down personally because he feels so guilty over the incident.
“I need to somehow track him down to give him a present because that’s inexcusable and completely avoidable,” Rahm added. “Whether it was my intention or not, it was just not good.”
Despite the ugly scene, Rahm will reportedly avoid punishment from PGA officials.
The PGA of America recently rolled out a stricter “Player Code of Conduct” aimed at cracking down on bad behavior and emotional outbursts from players. But tournament officials determined Rahm’s incident was accidental and didn’t cross the line into a formal violation.
A spokesperson told The Athletic there was “no intent” behind the incident and confirmed no warning or penalty would be issued.
Still, the footage has already sparked debate among golf fans online, with many questioning whether stars should be held more accountable when tempers boil over during major tournaments.
The awkward moment instantly became one of the most talked-about scenes of the opening round — and not for Rahm’s golf.
