Jon Rahm's return to major championship golf took an ugly turn Thursday at the PGA Championship, as the LIV Golf star was widely criticized for an outburst that accidentally struck a volunteer.

Playing at even par through 15 holes, Rahm grew visibly frustrated after a wayward approach shot on the par-4 7th hole. In a moment of anger, he slammed his club into the turf, sending a clump of grass flying into the face of a nearby volunteer. The incident, captured by cameras and reported by The Athletic's Gabby Herzig, quickly drew sharp rebukes from fans and commentators.

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Herzig noted on social media: “A frustrated Jon Rahm just took a swing at the rough after his approach on No. 7. It caused a clump of grass to fly into a volunteer’s face. (Looked like Rahm felt pretty bad about it, he went over and apologized quickly.)”

Despite the quick apology, the damage to Rahm's reputation was done. Social media erupted with criticism, with one fan calling the behavior “embarrassing” and another demanding “he should be ejected.” A third user wrote, “Needs to do better.”

This isn't the first time a LIV Golf star has faced backlash for on-course conduct. At The Masters earlier this year, Sergio Garcia was issued a formal warning after a meltdown in the final round, which he later apologized for. The pattern has raised questions about the behavior of players who left the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed league.

Rahm's incident adds to the drama of an already eventful PGA Championship, which has seen its share of surprises—including Bryson DeChambeau's nightmare start and Rory McIlroy's blister issues. The tournament's challenging conditions, exemplified by the monstrous 11th hole, have tested players' patience all week.

For Rahm, who has been relatively quiet in majors since his move to LIV, this moment threatens to overshadow his performance. He remains in contention, but the incident has become a talking point that could linger throughout the weekend.

As the first round continues, all eyes will be on how Rahm responds—both on the course and in his interactions with fans and volunteers. The PGA Championship airs live on ESPN.