Golf professional Matt Fitzpatrick shared a light-hearted moment at Wentworth when he humorously referred to “two little thieves” who swiped his ball after a wayward shot into the trees before a thunderstorm halted play.
The British golfer, aged 31, faced a challenging situation on the 18th hole as his tee shot veered off course, prompting his caddie Daniel Parratt to suggest waiting until after the weather delay to search for the ball.
Concerned that a spectator might take the ball, Fitzpatrick sought advice from BMW PGA Championship officials, only to find out that his ball had indeed been taken by spectators during the interruption.
Reflecting on the incident, Fitzpatrick mentioned, “When the siren sounded, Dan raised the possibility of someone finding the ball and keeping it, which seemed plausible. We consulted a referee to decide whether to search for the ball immediately to prevent it from being taken.”
Upon inspecting the area where his ball landed, Fitzpatrick learned that two young individuals had pocketed his ball, leading him to take a drop at the same location. Despite the setback, he managed to salvage a bogey and believed the situation might have actually benefited him.
Recalling the scene, Fitzpatrick stated, “Several onlookers witnessed two boys retrieving a golf ball from the bushes near where we thought my ball had landed.” He continued, “We concluded it was likely my ball, so I took a drop at that spot upon our return. Although I scored a bogey six, playing with the original ball potentially saved me a shot. It would have been preferable if the boys had left it on the fairway!”
Expressing his overall performance, Fitzpatrick highlighted, “Apart from one erratic drive, I played well. Winning the BMW PGA Championship is a significant aspiration for every English golfer, and I am no exception.”
Fitzpatrick delivered a commendable six-under par 66, trailing by two strokes, with Ludvig Aberg leading after the first day of play. The threat of thunderstorms forced an 85-minute delay, causing 30 players to halt their opening rounds due to fading light after play was suspended post 7.30pm.