Watch: DeChambeau denied free drop after expressing concern with fire ants
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:
Bryson DeChambeau discussing fire ants with rules official Ken Tackett (h/t @KevinShockey) pic.twitter.com/9yLqHEfcKC
— CJ Fogler #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) July 30, 2020
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.
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) July 30, 2020
Bryson is currently trying to convince a rules official he should get a drop because he's in a dangerous situation because he saw a couple of fire ants this might be my favorite moment of 2020!
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) July 30, 2020
— The First Cut Podcast (@FirstCutPod) July 30, 2020
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