Seve Ballesteros today 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."
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.
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.
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.
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, while Gary Murphy is the only other Irishman in the field.
With Padraig 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. PA