For Niemann, it's 71 solid holes, one thrown club and maybe a return trip for next year's US Open

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — The U.S. Open summary for Joaquin Niemann looks like this: 71 holes of solid golf, one really bad one, a thrown club, a two-shot penalty and the willpower to not spend too much time wondering about what might have been.

“If my grandmother had tires, she'd be a car,” Niemann said Sunday, after wrapping up a tournament sullied by an opening-round 11 on the par-4 sixth hole that featured two tee shots out of bounds and two penalty strokes for hurling his club in frustration.

Niemann shot 4-under 66 in the final round to finish at 1-over 281. It doesn't take heavy math to imagine the possibilities had he not shot 7-over par on one hole. More urgently, when he left the course, his 281 put him in a tie for seventh, which would earn him the invitation for next year that goes to the the top-10 finishers and ties.

His 66 paired with a 65 he shot in the second round, shortly after learning his 9 on No. 6 had been bumped up two shots for violating the code of conduct. It meant Niemann was a good bet to tie for the two best rounds of the tournament along with recording the single worst one-hole score of the four rounds.

“A good experience, a good test for myself," he said. "What happened on Thursday and coming back, I was pretty proud of” myself.

Niemann didn't try to deflect blame or suggest he didn't deserve the two-shot penalty for chucking the club after the two errant tee shots, then being rejected when he asked for relief from what he thought might be fire ants.

Play was called for the day shortly after that. Niemann completed his first round Friday morning, then learned about the penalty.

“I was not trying to offend anyone,” he said. “I was frustrated. I had my expectations, which are always super high. I was playing good golf. I knew it was going to be a tough week, a long week, a challenging week. ... I’m not happy doing that. I’m not proud about throwing a golf club.”

He did not want to delve into the debate about whether the USGA was too aggressive in docking him the two shots. Even though the course was virtually empty at the time, he did, in fact, throw the club.

He called his comeback story “something to learn from.”

Asked if there were lessons to be learned from his odyssey around Shinnecock Hills, he said: “Everyone just stop throwing clubs. Just behave.”

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Joaquin Niemann gestures,on the third hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., Tuesday, June 16, 2026.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Joaquin Niemann hits from the rough on the third hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., Tuesday, June 16, 2026.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Miles Russell had quite a Father's Day gift for his dad: the chance to be caddie in his son's U.S. Open debut.

The 17-year-old amateur surprised his father, Joe, on the 18th hole Sunday when his caddie brought Russell's clubs to him outside the ropes to carry them the rest of the way.

“It was kind of a fun Father’s Day gift,” Miles Russell said. “Kind of cool since it was my first one. Hopefully it’s something he’ll remember for a long time.”

Russell had Charlie Woods, Tiger Woods' son and his future teammate at Florida State, carrying the bag for him when he advanced to the U.S. Open through a 36-hole qualifying tournament earlier this month.

Ramon Bescansa was on the bag for Russell at Shinnecock Hills — but only for 71 1/2 holes.

As Russell walked toward the 18th green, Bescansa turned toward the ropes and found Joe Russell. He placed the bag down just inside the ropes and removed his caddie bib and handed it to Joe, who put it on.

According to the NBC broadcast, Miles Russell asked a USGA rules official in the morning if he would be allowed to make the switch and was given permission. Joe Russell was not aware of the plan.

Miles Russell smiled widely as his father caught up to him and they walked up to the green.

Russell tapped in for par to finish off an even-par 70 in the final round. After becoming the second-youngest male amateur since World War II to play the weekend at the U.S. Open, he finished at 7 over for the tournament while being paired the final two rounds with fellow amateur Jackson Koivun, who led Auburn to two NCAA championships and is about to turn pro.

“It was a pretty special week,” Russell said. “Just to be here was really special, and to make the cut was kind of bonus points. I didn’t quite have my best stuff the last two days, but still really cool. Just a great experience.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Miles Russell hits from the fairway on the third hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., Thursday, June 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Miles Russell walks off the green on the third hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., Friday, June 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Miles Russell hits from the fairway on the first hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., Thursday, June 18, 2026.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)