In a moment of sheer disbelief that halted play at the prestigious BMW PGA Championship, Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick was embroiled in a bizarre rules drama that left him visibly frustrated and penalised on the iconic West Course at Wentworth.
The 2022 US Open champion's tee shot on the par-5 18th hole—his 9th of the day—found the semi-rough, a seemingly innocuous position. But what followed was a golfing mystery that left players, officials, and spectators utterly baffled.
"We all saw it land, we saw where it pitched, and then it was just gone," a bemused Fitzpatrick explained after his round. Despite a frantic five-minute search involving playing partners Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, the ball had seemingly vanished into thin air.
Under the strict rules of golf, the disappearance constituted a lost ball, forcing Fitzpatrick to make the gut-wrenching walk back to the tee to play his third shot. The incident led to a devastating double-bogey 7 on the hole, derailing his momentum and leaving him with a first-round score of one-under-par 71.
The Sheffield native didn't hold back in his assessment of the situation, pointing to the recent dry conditions at the Surrey venue as a potential culprit. "It's just a massive disadvantage for us to have this going on," he stated, highlighting the unfairness of a good shot being so severely punished.
The incident serves as a brutal reminder of golf's often unforgiving nature, where even the world's best can fall victim to a cruel twist of fate. Fitzpatrick will be hoping for better luck—and fewer vanishing acts—as he continues his quest for a home victory at Wentworth.
