Shocking moment Presidents Cup spectator kicks golf ball onto green at Medinah
Corey Conners got an unexpected assist from a spectator during day three of the 2026 Presidents Club at Medinah Country Club.
A bizarre incident unfolded during Saturday's Presidents Cup foursomes.
A spectator decided to boot Corey Conners' moving ball back toward the green after his approach appeared headed out of bounds.
Conners' shot at the second hole drifted left toward the rough beyond the wooden split-rail fence marking the boundary.
Before the ball could come to rest, a spectator intervened and kicked it onto the putting surface.
The ball eventually stopped about 13 feet from the hole, prompting boos from sections of the American crowd who likely believed that the International team was going to benefit from the unexpected assist.
But Conners was not permitted to take advantage.
What do the golf rules say?
PGA Tour rules official Mark Dusbabek told the live broadcast that the ball had to be treated as out of bounds because the spectator had deliberately intervened.
Under the rules, an accidental deflection by a spectator would generally leave the ball to be played from where it comes to rest.
"You estimate where the ball would’ve landed if it wasn't deflected," Dusbabek said.
"That ball would be out of bounds."
The ruling erased what initially appeared to be a remarkable stroke of luck for Conners and partner Nick Taylor.
The Canadian pair ultimately lost the hole after the Americans made bogey, allowing Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman to move 2up after two holes.
Geoff Ogilvy's International team led the 16th edition of the biennial contest by three points heading into Saturday's foursomes.
Conners has endured a mixed Presidents Cup through Saturday at Medinah, going 1-2 through three matches for the International team.
Conners opened the week with a 4&3 defeat alongside Nico Echavarria against Justin Thomas and Presidents Cup rookie Jackson Koivun in Thursday's four-ball session.
The Canadians' fortunes improved Friday, when Conners teamed with Nick Taylor to upset Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns, 1-up, in foursomes.
Taylor delivered the decisive approach on the 18th, setting up a conceded par that secured the International point.
The momentum did not carry into Saturday morning.
Conners and Taylor fell 2&1 to Chris Gotterup and Cameron Young.
Keep up to date with the latest Presidents Cup scores here.
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These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
