The Hero World Challenge has seen widespread player criticism of the course conditions, with top golfers like Wyndham Clark, Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners, and Sepp Straka all expressing concerns about the challenging Bermuda grass and maintenance issues. Clark bluntly stated, 'It’s not in good shape,' citing into-the-grain lies, elevated greens, and poor turf conditions as major difficulties. Scheffler and Conners echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the challenging grain and lies that make short-game shots particularly difficult. The course's design, favored by Tiger Woods to be firm and fast, appears to be intentionally difficult, but players question whether the tough conditions are a result of maintenance or design. Meanwhile, Wyndham Clark, who recently hired a new swing coach, is optimistic about his improved form after shooting a 66 in the first round, his best since July, and is focusing on returning to his 2023 swing. The tournament leader board shows multiple players at -6, with Clark among the leaders, but the collective frustration over course conditions remains a prominent storyline. The event continues with three rounds remaining, and players are adapting to the challenging greens and turf, which test their skill and creativity.