Golf - Spanish Open: 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 British Open and US Masters champion.

"For amateurs it should be as 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 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 US 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 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 at 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, Paul McGinley and Phillip Price are the three members of last September's Ryder Cup-winning side on view.

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.