Jon Rahm expressed regret after his approach shot on the par-4 7th hole at Aronimink Golf Club went long on Thursday. Frustrated, he took an extra swing with his iron through the rough, but a divot flew and struck a PGA Championship volunteer in the face. Rahm immediately apologized to the volunteer, who appeared uninjured. The incident occurred during a bogey that brought him back to even par.
“Out of frustration, I tried an air swing, took a divot, and hit a volunteer,” Rahm said. “It hit his shoulder and face, and I couldn’t feel worse. That’s why I apologized.” Rahm finished the day with a 1-under 69, two shots off the lead, after a hole-out eagle on the second.
Ranked 20th in the Official World Golf Rankings, Rahm is the highest-rated LIV Golf member in the field. He has two LIV wins this season and placed T38 at the Masters. Rahm hopes to find the volunteer again to give him a gift, calling the incident “inexcusable and avoidable.”