Matt Fitzpatrick has thanked two unknown ‘thieves’ who stole his golf ball during a rain delay at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, claiming the incident may have saved him a shot.
Play was suspended for over an hour on Thursday afternoon due to the threat of lightning. Fitzpatrick had hit his drive on the 18th hole into bushes when the siren sounded. His caddie, Dan Parratt, suggested someone might pocket the ball, prompting them to alert a referee.
Spectators reported seeing two young boys dive into the bushes and emerge grinning with a golf ball. Fitzpatrick was allowed to take a drop in that spot when play resumed, avoiding the need to use his provisional ball. He made a six on the hole, commenting: “If I’d had to play my provisional ball it could have been worse. So those two little thieves who made off with my ball probably saved me a shot.”
Fitzpatrick carded a six-under-par 66 to sit near the top of the leaderboard after the first round. Ludvig Aberg, his Ryder Cup teammate, shot an eight-under 64 to share the lead with Tom Vaillant. Rory McIlroy finished five shots back after finding water on the final hole for a 69.
Play was suspended again due to darkness, with late starters completing their opening rounds on Friday morning.
