Matt Fitzpatrick has thanked two unknown 'thieves' who stole his golf ball during a rain delay at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The incident occurred on the 18th hole during the opening round on Thursday, when play was suspended for over an hour due to the threat of lightning.
Fitzpatrick had hit his drive into bushes when the siren sounded. His caddie, Dan Parratt, raised the possibility that someone might take the ball. Fitzpatrick called over a referee, who found that two young boys had been seen diving into the bushes and emerging with a golf ball. Fitzpatrick took a drop in that spot, ultimately carding a six on the hole.
'I made a six but 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 said. He finished the first round with a six-under-par 66, putting him in contention.
Ludvig Aberg, Fitzpatrick's Ryder Cup teammate, shared the lead after shooting an eight-under 64 alongside Tom Vaillant. Rory McIlroy found the water on the final hole, finishing five shots back with a 69. Play was suspended again due to darkness, with late starters completing their rounds on Friday morning.
