Jon Rahm apologizes after hitting volunteer with flying divot at PGA Championship: ‘inexcusable’

Jon Rahm is one of the best golfers in the world, and considering his media presence and occasional golf appearances on YouTube, he is thoughtful, funny and approachable. On the course and in tournaments, Rahm is known for being among golf’s fiercest competitors. And he is undoubtedly his own harshest critic.

That dynamic played out again in the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, just outside Philadelphia.

Before the tournament, some expected Aronimink to be easier to play than other major championship golf courses due to the lack of trees or other hazards around the fairways. However, as Thursday draws to a close, a much tougher match than expected is in store. With a par 70, the leaders were mostly three under. Rahm also said this at the post-tour press conference.

“There was one earlier in the week where there was chatter that people thought the under 15-20s were going to win,” he explained. “And I think that got the attention of someone at the PGA, and they did something about it. Because if the golf course stays the way it is and keeps consolidating, yeah, obviously that’s not going to happen.”

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He realized for himself how difficult it was to play the seventh hole.

Rahm went just short of the fairway in the left rough. He caught one pilot lie in difficult rough terrain and on the second he went a long way into rough terrain on the right. Several on-field reporters, outraged by the throw and the outcome, said Rahm swung his bat into the tall grass and… threw the bat directly at a volunteer standing nearby, hitting him in the face.

athletics Gabby Herzig described it this way: Publish on X“A frustrated Jon Rahm hit hard after approaching No. 7. This caused a tuft of grass to fly into a volunteer’s face.” He added that Rahm “felt pretty bad about it” and “went over to him and apologized right away.”

Spaniard Jon Rahm throws his ball toward the crowd on the second green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown, Pa., on May 14, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Because he was in a difficult situation, he could not stand up and settled for bogey. Some viewers caught his Featured Groups coverage on ESPN.

Rahm was asked about it after the tour and said he “couldn’t feel worse” about it.

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“Thank you for reminding me of this,” he said. “On my second shot I took a long fly. Not a good spot. Just out of frustration I tried to do an air swing on the grass and I wasn’t looking, I dived and unfortunately hit a volunteer.”

He added: “Yes, it hit him and unfortunately it hit his shoulder and then his face. I couldn’t have felt worse. That’s why I was there apologizing. I have to find him somehow to give him a gift because it’s inexcusable and completely avoidable. Whether it was my intention or not, it wasn’t good at all.”

Spaniard Jon Rahm waves after his tee shot on the sixth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship practice round at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., on May 14, 2026. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Rahm, being the type of player he is, rallied to finish his round at -1, which puts him in contention for his third major title. Ah, he got hidden twice, including from above, in one of the most eventful rounds of the day 100 meters away.

Never a dull moment.