SOUTHPORT, England (AP) \u2014 Jon Rahm was given a code-of-conduct warning Friday in the British Open for throwing his club after a poor tee shot on the par-3 15th hole, the third conduct ruling in the majors this year.<\/p>\n
The majors have been getting serious about conduct this year, collaborating on a policy but leaving each organization in charge of what it deems a serious offense.<\/p>\n
Rahm, who shot 3-under 67 and was four shots out of the lead, hit his tee shot left of the green on the 15th hole and flung his iron forward and it bounced a few times.<\/p>\n
The R&A said Rahm was issued the official warning \u201cunder The Open serious misconduct policy.\u201d The policy typically is in play for the entire tournament, meaning if there is another incident, it would be a two-shot penalty. The third violation is disqualification.<\/p>\n
Rahm said he didn\u2019t think about his outburst until he saw an R&A official on the 17th hole.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he was walking up to me, I knew exactly what it was for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The USGA bypassed the warning and went straight to a two-shot penalty for Joaquin Niemann in the first round of the U.S. Open<\/a> when on the sixth hole \u2014 his 15th of the round \u2014 he threw his wedge that traveled some 70 yards. With hardly any spectators, no one captured public video although officials would have had access from the ShotLink cameras.<\/p>\n