MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Bryson DeChambeau has been the talk of the PGA Tour this season with his long drives and overall strong play.
But Thursday at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, DeChambeau tried to make a mountain out of an ant hill.
On the par-4 7th hole amid a strong first-round performance, DeChambeau smashed a drive into an area with trees to the left of the fairway. His lie, among pine straw and sticks, wasn’t the best. Of particular concern to DeChambeau and his caddie, however, was an ant hole near his feet when he attempted a stance.
“It looks like an ant hole, or ant area,” DeChambeau said to PGA Tour tournament referee Ken Tackett on the Golf Channel broadcast.
“I just don’t see Bryson, honestly … I don’t see fire ants,” Tackett said after some discussion.
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Bryson DeChambeau was not given a drop following a conversation with a rules official regarding fire ants and a burrowing animal hole. pic.twitter.com/imw7oSW0m8
— GOLFonCBS (@GOLFonCBS) July 30, 2020
DeChambeau pointed out fire ants a couple times, but according to the USGA, ant hills or ant holes are not included as “abnormal ground conditions” eligible for free relief. An animal hole, however, is. The conversation shifted to whether or not it was an animal hole, with DeChambeau’s caddie asking how big a hole has to be in order for it to be considered an animal hole.
Tackett wasn’t buying it.
“It doesn’t interfere with your stance regardless, anyway. It’s not an animal hole,” Tackett said.
The former SMU star left his second shot short and left of the hole, eventually making a double bogey. DeChambeau finished with a 3-under 67.
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