Golf fans divided by controversial Presidents Cup tactic: "Geoff, what are you doing?"

Presidents Cup players and spectators appear to be divided over the early out of bounds threat at Medinah Country Club.

The three-foot-tall wooden split-rail fence running down the left side of the first three holes has quickly become one of the most talked-about features of the opening stretch.

Some players have described how the narrow landing areas are both nerve-racking and strategically significant.

Min Woo Lee was among those surprised when he first saw the fence during a practice round.

"When we first got up there," Lee said, "I just said, 'Geoff, what are you doing?'"

Lee was referring to the International captain, whose design team was involved in the Medinah revamp. 

The fence sits only a few yards from the fairway on the 495-yard first hole, the 460-yard second and the 592-yard third, creating an immediate visual threat for players standing on the tee.

During a pre-tournament news conference, Collin Morikawa compared the setup with his experience at the 2021 Ryder Cup, saying he previously felt comfortable hitting aggressively from the opening tee. 

At Medinah, he said, the first two holes were unlike anything he had seen before.

Justin Thomas described the opening stretch as "very nerve-racking," while Si Woo Kim said that at previous Presidents Cups he felt he could hit almost anywhere and still make birdie. 

At Medinah, Kim, a shot missing left "pretty much" gives away the hole.

The danger became reality during Thursday's opening matches.

On the second hole, Sungjae Im's tee shot struck the fence and ricocheted back into play, narrowly avoiding a more damaging result. 

Hideki Matsuyama also found trouble on the hole, with his tee shot finishing roughly a yard from out of bounds. 

His next shot required him to awkwardly sit on the top rail of the fence before making his swing.

Thomas and Jackson Koivun’s match provided another example, with the 21-year-old hitting his tee shot out of bounds on the second. 

Despite the early drama, the fence is not simply a hazard designed to punish errant shots. 

Players who challenge the left side can open up better angles, while conservative shots to the right can leave more difficult approaches.

Xander Schauffele, who noticed the fence immediately during his practice round, said players have encountered plenty of unusual obstacles before.

"At least with a fence if you’re going towards it, maybe it'll bounce off of it," Schauffele said.

[I am] just trying to find something positive."