Bryson DeChambeau pled his case for a free drop to a rules official after his errant drive nestled near the base of a tree.

His reasoning: dangerous fire ants.

Here's how the lengthy discussion unfolded:

DeChambeau spotted a couple of fire ants and requested relief from a dangerous animal condition; specifically, a burrowing animal hole.

Rule 16 of the United States Golf Association's rulebook "covers when and how the player may take free relief by playing a ball from a different place, such as when there is interference by an abnormal course condition or a dangerous animal condition."

However, rules official Ken Tackett determined the situation was not dangerous and DeChambeau's swing would not disrupt a colony of ants.

DeChambeau went on to make double-bogey on the par-4 seventh but still carded a 3-under 67 to open the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Naturally, the internet had some fun at DeChambeau's expense.