Presidents Cup Fan's Kick Ruled Out of Bounds Under Rule 11.2

A fan altered the outcome of a shot during Saturday afternoon foursomes at the 2026 Presidents Cup, kicking a ball back into play after it flew out of bounds at Medinah No. 3.

What happened on the hole?

Corey Conners hit the International team's second shot in an alternate-shot match from 211 yards. The shot hooked left and bounced over the three-foot wooden rail fence running down the left side of the opening three holes. While the ball was still in the air after the bounce, a spectator kicked it back into play and onto the green.

How did officials rule on the interference?

Referees ruled the shot out of bounds under Rule 11.2 of the Rules of Golf, which governs situations where a ball in motion is deliberately deflected or stopped by a person. The rule applies whenever it is known or virtually certain the interference was deliberate, including a spectator's touch.

What penalty applies when a fan interferes?

Because the ball would have come to rest out of bounds without the kick, the player was required to take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 18.2, effectively replaying the shot from its original spot with a one-stroke penalty.