Jon Rahm apologizes for hitting volunteer with divot during frustrated outburst at PGA Championship

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Jon Rahm apologizes for hitting volunteer with divot during frustrated outburst at PGA Championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Former Masters and U.S. Open winner Jon Rahm received criticism Thursday for his actions at the PGA Championship.

After a frustrating swing, Rahm’s attempted practice swing sent a divot toward a volunteer. The LIV golfer is still competing in major events but has placed in the 30s in his previous two majors, a cold stretch for the two-time major winner.

Rahm’s performance Thursday was not up to his standards either, as he shot one over par through the first round of competition. With a cutline at +2, Rahm looks safe for the time being but is still far from the top of the leaderboard.

Here’s what Jon Rahm said after a regrettable moment with a course volunteer.

MORE: Live scores, results, highlights from Round 2 of the 2026 PGA Championship

Jon Rahm hits volunteer with divot​

After a frustrating shot, Jon Rahm tried to express his disappointment with an air swing. However, this air swing clipped a divot in the ground and sent it flying. The divot hit one volunteer in the shoulder before bouncing up to hit him in the face.

Upon realizing what happened, Rahm went over to check on the volunteer, apologize, and make sure the volunteer was not hurt. The volunteer was still in good spirits, smiling during the interaction with Rahm.

Major championships in golf this season have implemented a new code of conduct for competitors. The PGA of America told Golf Channel that no warning was issued for Rahm's actions.

MORE: Updates on cut line for 2026 PGA Championship

Jon Rahm apology​

Rahm was asked about this moment in a press conference after his day concluded. He set the record straight on what happened, once again expressing his remorse.

"I got a flyer on my second shot that went long. It's not a good spot and just out of frustration, I tried to make an air swing. Just over the grass and I wasn't looking. I took a divot and unfortunately I hit a volunteer." Rahm said. "I couldn't feel worse and that's why I was there, apologizing."

️ #INEXCUSABLE — Jon Rahm hit a volunteer with a divot after he took a swing out of frustration…

“Yeah, it hit him, and unfortunately it hit him in the shoulder and then the face. Which I couldn't feel any worse...” pic.twitter.com/r2zffiARfT

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) May 14, 2026

Rahm later called his actions "inexcusable" and insisted that he'd like to track down the volunteer to give him a present.

MORE: Location, distance, course details for 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink

Jon Rahm LIV Golf contract​

The exact deals of Rahm's contract with LIV is not known, though Spotrac says that between his individual contract and bonuses, Rahm earned just over $38 million in his first two seasons with LIV golf.

This year, his individual salary with LIV was $16 million and he has earned just over $2 million so far in bonuses.

With LIV hoping to find new sources of financing, Rahm told ESPN that he still has multiple years left on his contract with LIV Golf without "many ways out."

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