Tour pro confronts golf's rule makers: "I know that is unlucky but come on..."

DP World Tour pro Pablo Larazzabal was delighted he hit the fairway on the 15th hole during the first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. 

The only problem for the Spaniard, though, was that he was completely hosed after his golf ball landed in another player's pitch mark. 

Unsurprisingly, with his ball embedded and 202 yards from the pin, Larrazabal missed the green short left and failed to get up and down to save par. 

It represented his fourth and final bogey in an opening round of 1-under 71 at the flagship event in Surrey. 

Larrazabal took to X after his round to urge the Royal and Ancient to think about changing the rule once and for all. 

Over the years, debate has raged over whether it's fair to be penalised after you've done the hard work of finding the short stuff. 

But landing in another player's pitch mark or divot is considered a 'rub of the green' and you simply have to suck it up and play the ball as it lies. 

Those against altering the rules in this regard suggest that it would be all too easy to cheat. 

The change could also lead to lengthy delays on the course.

"Dear R&A," Larrazabal wrote on X. 

"Do you think it's fair to hit the middle of the fairway on the hardest hole of the course and end up in another player's pitch mark and [get] NO relief?

"I know that is unlucky but come on. Check the rules of our game to make it fair please. 

"Thank you and see you guys soon."

Larrazabal's post received a mixed reaction. 

Here's some comments:

"Just have to accept it, or we slow the game down even further by conducting investigations into what’s a pitch mark and what isn't. Simply isn’t enough time in the day."

"Imagine the lengthy delays while pros get rulings on whether it’s a divot or not - maybe an old one Golf has good breaks and bad ones Play it and move on

"You should be allowed a scorecard length drop."

"I think a new rule needs adding, if your ball lands in a divot, or pitch mark, you can roll the ball out no penalty."

"It's unlucky, but that is also the spirit of the game. A relief rule would do more bad than good."

One user pointed out, incorrectly, that Larrazabal was entitled to a drop. 

But the golfer pointed out that relief is only allowed if his ball came to rest in his own pitch mark. 

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