Matt Fitzpatrick says ‘little thieves’ saved him a shot after ball taken during BMW PGA Championship

Matt Fitzpatrick said two children who were seen fleeing with a golf ball during a weather suspension at the BMW PGA Championship likely saved him a stroke after a surreal episode on the 18th hole at Wentworth.

Fitzpatrick, the world No. 29, ballooned his tee shot into the trees on the right of the 18th and then hit a provisional that sat three off the tee. A siren sounded to halt play because of bad weather, and when he and his caddie inspected where his original ball had gone they were told two youngsters had been seen diving into the bushes and emerging with a golf ball.

Fitzpatrick and his caddie, Dan Parratt, called over a tournament referee, who judged that, on the balance of probabilities, the ball taken from the bushes was Fitzpatrick’s. The referee allowed Fitzpatrick to take a drop in the area when play resumed 90 minutes later rather than requiring him to play his provisional ball. Fitzpatrick carded a six on the hole.

"I made six, but if I’d had to play my provisional ball it could have been worse," Fitzpatrick said. "So those two little thieves who made off with my ball probably saved me a shot." He also said Parratt had raised the possibility of someone "sniffing around in the bushes" and pocketing a ball when the suspension was called.

Fitzpatrick finished the day at six-under-par after a round of 66, two strokes behind early leader Ludvig Aberg, who shot 64. The pair are teammates on Europe’s Ryder Cup squad, and their placement in the same group at Wentworth prompted discussion that they might be paired together by captain Luke Donald at next month’s matches at Bethpage Black.

The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth is a signature event on the DP World Tour and often features weather-related suspensions late in the season across English courses. Tournament officials routinely consult referees and apply the Rules of Golf to unusual situations arising from suspensions and crowd interference; in this case the official’s ruling resulted in a less punitive outcome for Fitzpatrick than playing the provisional would have produced.

Play resumed after the 90-minute suspension and the tournament continued with Fitzpatrick among the contenders for the clubhouse lead as the day progressed. The incident underlined how external factors, including spectators and weather, can affect competition and the application of the rules in elite professional golf.