Medinah boundary tests Presidents Cup players early

Presidents Cup players have almost no room to miss left during Medinah’s opening stretch. The course was rearranged for the competition, placing a split-rail fence close to the fairway’s first cut on each of the first three holes. Although the event is visiting Medinah for the first time, the rounds start at the hole normally played as the fifth.

The narrow margin has already influenced several matches. Sungjae Im caught a favorable break Thursday when his drive struck the barrier and returned to short grass. On Friday, Christiaan Bezuidenhout watched an approach land safely before an unfortunate bounce carried it beyond the boundary. Justin Thomas narrowly stayed inside the line Saturday morning, then tried a left-handed swing using his usual club. His first effort moved the ball very little, but he escaped on the next attempt. Partner Jackson Koivun then made birdie for a 1-up advantage.

Corey Conners encountered a different ruling later Saturday. His shot crossed the fence, and a spectator intentionally sent the ball toward the putting surface. Because that contact was deliberate, officials treated the original shot as out of bounds. The incidents have divided fans: some see a shared challenge that applies equally, while others believe the fence sits too close to normal playing areas. Either way, accuracy on Medinah’s left side remains especially important as the matches continue.