Spectator Kicks Corey Conners’ Ball Back Into Play at the Presidents Cup

chicago corey conners medinah country club presidents cup

Golf produced another “Did that really just happen?” moment Saturday at the 2026 Presidents Cup.

During the afternoon foursomes session at Medinah Country Club, Corey Conners struck the International Team’s approach into the par-4 second hole from approximately 211 yards. The shot hooked left, crossed the wooden split-rail fence and appeared destined to finish out of bounds.

Then a spectator stepped in and kicked the moving ball back onto the course.

The ball rolled across the putting surface and eventually stopped approximately 13 feet from the hole, momentarily creating what would have been one of the most unusual birdie opportunities in Presidents Cup history.

The rules officials, however, quickly determined that the spectator’s action was deliberate. They estimated where the ball would have finished without the interference and ruled it out of bounds. Conners and playing partner Nick Taylor ultimately lost the hole to Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman.

It was a bizarre moment—but the spectator’s kick was only part of the story.

Why Is the Out-of-Bounds Fence So Close to the Green?

The incident immediately drew attention to one of Medinah’s most unusual design features: a three-foot wooden fence running dangerously close to the opening holes.

For the Presidents Cup routing, the par-4 second is normally the sixth hole for Medinah members. It is part of a three-hole stretch bordered by the split-rail fence, with the area on the other side designated out of bounds.

That boundary is not tucked behind trees or hidden well away from play. It is plainly visible and, near the green, close enough to turn a slightly pulled approach into a reload.

To some golfers, that feels overly severe. A player can miss a green by only a relatively small margin and find the ball completely out of play. There is no bunker shot, difficult chip or heroic recovery—just stroke and distance.

But that severity is intentional.

The Story Behind Medinah’s Fence

Medinah’s famed Course No. 3 was originally designed by Tom Bendelow and opened in 1928. The course has undergone several changes during its long championship history, most recently receiving a major redesign from OCM Golf, the architecture firm led by Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead.

The redesigned course reopened in 2024.

Historically, this section of the property ran alongside a road. As traffic and development around the club increased, OCM moved the holes farther inward. The design team then faced an interesting question: What should they do with the space between the relocated holes and the property line?

Instead of hiding the boundary with trees and rough, the architects turned the old split-rail fence into a prominent strategic feature. Historical photographs also showed fencing close to this portion of the course, giving the modern design a connection to Medinah’s past.

The result is a boundary that golfers cannot ignore.

The closer a player challenges the fence from the tee, the better the angle and shorter the approach generally become. A golfer who plays safely away from the boundary receives more room from the tee—but often faces a longer and more awkward approach directed back toward the out-of-bounds line.

That is classic risk-and-reward architecture: safety on one shot can create greater difficulty on the next.

Brilliant Strategy or Unfair Punishment?

That is where opinions become divided.

Supporters believe the fence gives the holes identity. It forces elite players to make meaningful decisions, introduces real consequences and creates tension that ordinary rough simply cannot produce. At a match-play event such as the Presidents Cup, one swing over the fence can immediately change the momentum of a match.

The fence had already claimed several shots before Conners’ approach. During Thursday’s opening session, Jackson Koivun, Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim all sent balls across the boundary on the par-4 second hole. Even players who avoided it acknowledged that the fence affected their decisions.

Critics see the feature differently. They question whether out of bounds should sit so close to a green—particularly on a championship course. A hazard such as a bunker, deep rough or closely mown collection area still gives a golfer an opportunity to recover. Out of bounds eliminates that possibility and delivers one of golf’s harshest penalties.

There is also an aesthetic question. Does a wooden boundary fence add character and strategic interest, or does it feel artificial when it intrudes so prominently into the playing area?

The Caddy’s Perspective

From a caddie’s standpoint, the most important lesson is that the safest-looking route is not always the smartest one.

Playing well away from trouble may provide immediate comfort, but it can produce a more difficult next shot. Good course management means studying the entire hole—not simply avoiding the most obvious hazard from the tee.

Before selecting a target, the player and caddie must consider:

Which side of the fairway provides the best angle?
Where does the boundary become most dangerous?
Does playing away from the fence force the approach back toward it?
Is the improved angle worth accepting additional risk?

That is exactly the kind of decision OCM intended golfers to face. The fence is visually simple, but its influence extends from the tee all the way to the green.

On Saturday, it also created one of the most unforgettable moments of the Presidents Cup—although probably not in the way the architects envisioned.

What Do You Think?

Is Medinah’s close out-of-bounds fence a creative feature that produces strategy, pressure and memorable golf?

Or is out of bounds that close to a green simply too severe?

Watch the video, then share your take: brilliant course design or ridiculous punishment?

The factual background above is supported by Medinah, OCM and tournament reporting: Course No. 3 originated with Tom Bendelow and was redesigned by OCM for its 2024 reopening. The fence replaced the strategic role once played by the adjacent road and intentionally rewards golfers who challenge the boundary. The incident, ruling and result of the hole were reported by Golf Channel.