Ballesteros: technology gone too far

SEVE BALLESTEROS yesterday called for some radical changes in professional golf — to make the game harder to play.

Ballesteros, speaking in Tenerife on the eve of his 30th appearance in the Spanish Open, believes improved technology has made life much too easy for today's stars.

Now he wants to see a ban on all long putters, a limit of the degree of loft on wedges and a reduction in the number of clubs allowed from 14 to 12.

"I believe very strongly in different rules for professionals and amateurs," said the 46-year-old former Open and Masters champion.

"For amateurs it should be as a easy as possible, but for professionals it should be different. We play for a living, they play for enjoyment and the rules are not the same anyway because they have different tees.

"The game was invented to test the skill of players and the way technology is going anybody can play.

"I remember when the ability to hit a one or two-iron off the ground was really in the hands of a only a few professionals. Now the weight distribution of the clubs gives you the opportunity to hit the ball as high as you want.

"I think technology equalises the players more. Twenty-five years my scoring average (on the European tour) was 68.85, which is still a record, but if I had the clubs and ball I have now it probably would have been 67 or even better."

It is not only the area of equipment which Ballesteros feels the Royal and Ancient Club and the United States Golf Association the sport's two ruling bodies need to address at their next rules get-together.

Jeff Maggert incurred a two-stroke penalty when leading the Masters two weeks ago when the ball rebounded off the lip of a bunker and hit him.

"I don't think that should be a penalty," said Ballesteros, who was commentating on television after missing the halfway cut. "I don't think it's any different to hitting a spectator." There is no penalty for that.

Favourite this week is Sergio Garcia, who is trying to become the first man since Max Faulkner 50 years ago to make a successful defence of the Spanish title.

Garcia, though, is making swing changes and, after finishing in the top 10 of all four majors last season, has yet to have a top 20 finish in any tournament this year.

"When things are going well why change?" asked Ballesteros. "Last year he played some fantastic golf, but he is old enough to know what he is supposed to do.

"Time will be the judge. Maybe he will regret it or maybe it will be the right thing."

Garcia has dropped from fourth to 11th in the world in 2003, but while that still puts him 39 places above the next highest-ranked man in the field at Costa Adeje, Welshman Bradley Dredge, but it also raises doubts about his ability to repeat the four-stroke victory he had on Gran Canaria last year.

"I don't mind missing a season or half a season if this is going to make me improve for the rest of my career," said the Ryder Cup star.

He was lying second after an opening 69 at the Masters two weeks ago, but then came a 78 and he ended the tournament joint 28th on six over par.

On the eve of his first appearance of the season in Europe he said: "My game is getting there. It's coming along slowly, but surely.

"My swing feels better every week. These things don't come easily, though. I'd been thinking about making changes for a while because I want to be more consistent."

Jose Maria Olazabal's form deserted him at the start of the season as well, but after his eighth place at Augusta he tees off at Costa Adeje in much better spirits.

Garcia, Paul McGinley and Phillip Price are the three members of last September's Ryder Cup-winning side on view.

With Pádraig Harrington the only European currently in the world's top 10 Ballesteros, in expansive mood, was inevitably asked his view on the state of the sport here.

"I see many great players, but I don't see many great champions," he said.

Then he recalled the excitement he created in his hey-day and it had nothing to do with changing his swing and finding more consistency.

"The key to Seve Ballesteros being popular was because people like to see some erratic shots and tremendous recovery shots. That's why it's been so much fun to watch me play, I think."

Not so much fun lately, however. Ballesteros has not had a top 10 finish for five years, not won for eight and last season slumped to a career-low 247th on the Order of Merit.