Matt Fitzpatrick saw the funny side after two young spectators “pinched” his golf ball during a dramatic finish to his opening round at the BMW PGA Championship — and admitted their mischief may have actually helped him.
The 2022 US Open champion carved his drive into the trees on the 18th hole at Wentworth and struck a provisional ball moments before the horn sounded to suspend play due to a thunderstorm.
With a 90-minute delay ahead, Fitzpatrick and caddie Daniel Parratt debated whether to wait until play resumed before searching for the original ball.
He said: “When the siren went, Dan said, ‘What happens if someone goes sniffing around, finds your ball and decides to pocket it?’
Matt Fitzpatrick has opened up after the bizarre incident at the BMW PGA Championship
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“That was a great point as there had to be a good chance of that happening. So we asked a referee whether we should look for the ball then, rather than risk it being taken.”
Tournament officials accompanied Fitzpatrick to the spot where they believed his ball had finished.
“A few people saw two young boys dive into the bushes and come out grinning with a golf ball,” Fitzpatrick said with a smile.
“So, we decided the balance of probability was that it was my ball — and that I’d take a drop in that spot when we got back.”
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When play resumed, Fitzpatrick took the drop and made a bogey six on the hole, but said it could have been much worse if he’d been forced to play his provisional ball.
“Those two little thieves probably saved me a shot,” he laughed.
“It would’ve been better if they’d thrown it on the fairway!”
Fitzpatrick signed for a six-under-par 66 to continue the excellent form that earned him a Ryder Cup wildcard earlier this month.
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Matt Fitzpatrick was firing at flags on day one 🎯#BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/Q7Dp8S9KyK
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The Sheffield-born star will head to Bethpage Black brimming with confidence after another strong performance.
“I played great apart from that one wild drive,” he said. “This is an event every English golfer wants to win and I’m no different.”
Fitzpatrick finished the day just a couple of shots behind playing partner and Ryder Cup teammate Ludvig Åberg, who carded a superb 64 to share the lead with France’s Tom Vaillant.
Vaillant, who hit the very first shot of the tournament at 6:40am, matched Åberg’s score in a display that has turned heads at Wentworth.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, endured a frustrating finish in near-darkness, finding the water with his approach to 18 and dropping a shot to close with a 69.
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Matt Fitzpatrick made a promising start to the BMW PGA Championship
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Shane Lowry, McIlroy’s playing partner, surged home with five birdies over the last seven holes to sign for a 67, matching fellow Ryder Cup star Justin Rose.
With a packed leaderboard and more rain forecast, Fitzpatrick will hope the momentum — and perhaps a bit more good fortune — stays with him as he looks to challenge for one of English golf’s most prestigious titles.