Bryson DeChambeau wanted relief.
Brooks Koepka gave him something else.
Koepka hit his drive into the trees left Friday on the 7th hole at TPC Southwind. A day earlier, during the first round of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, DeChambeau had hit his in a similar spot – then asked a rules official if he could take a drop after claiming to see red ants near his ball. He was eventually denied.
“Uh, oh, that’s in red antville,” Golf Channel analyst Nick Faldo said after Koepka’s drive.
Koepka took two half-swings when he got to his ball. He backed away. He pointed to a spot on the ground with his club.
“There’s an ant,” Koepka said to caddie Ricky Elliott.
Koepka paused. Elliott stepped in to look.
“No, I’m just kidding,” Koepka said.
Koepka was on the 16th hole of his second round. (He started on the back nine.) He was even-par at that point after starting the day with a two-stroke lead. He took a shot before his shot.
“Bryson is definitely causing some entertainment out there,” Faldo said after the comment.
Koepka punched out and eventually bogeyed the hole.
“I hope he didn’t kill him,” Faldo said of the ant as Koepka’s punch-out rolled to the green. “That’s the only one.”