TYRRELL HATTON hit the headlines worldwide in 2016 with a series of outstanding performances that moved him swiftly into the sport’s elite. Currently ranked 16th in the world, Hatton started to build momentum last June with a tie for fifth place in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open before going on to share seventh place at the European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
He continued his successful run with a two-week spell on the Scottish links as he followed his runner-up finish at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart in Inverness with a fifth place finish at The Open at Royal Troon.
Best £250 investment by club members
His next outing was at the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol and a top ten finish there cemented his status as one of Europe’s rising stars. At this point, the members at his home club at Harleyford, where 30 of them had put in £250 each to enable him to play on the EuroPro Tour and later on the European Challenge Tour, were seeing their investment proudly pay dividends as Hatton flew the club’s colours with pride.
It was only a matter of time before Hatton nailed his first victory and he did so in fine style at St Andrews at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He carded a record third round 62 to pull away from the field and backed it up with a closing round of 66 to secure his first win and a cheque for €711,000.
€811,000 haul at the DP World Tour Championship
It wasn’t his largest payout in 2016. He had saved the best for last at the DP World Tour Championship, where a second-placed finish behind Matt Fitzpatrick added a further €811,000 to his Race to Dubai account. With his 2016 prizemoney earnings in the books he made a flying start to this season on the Desert Swing with a share of third place at the Dubai Desert Classic before moving Stateside to test himself on the US PGA Tour.
Making a slash State sides
Hatton quickly silenced any doubters with top-five finishes at the Honda Classic and the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida before making his Masters debut.We caught up with Hatton shortly before he teed it up at Bay Hill to discuss his breakout year, his fondness of the Middle East and why he’s not a big fan of the practice range!
How much time do you spend on the range?
I’d rather get on course to practice instead of spending hours on the range. I will warm up before I go out to play a tournament but that’s it. I wouldn’t get back on the range after a round.
Tell us about your coach, I guess he knows you well? And what do you work on?
As you know, my coach is my Dad. We keep things simple and haven’t really changed anything in my swing for about eight years or more. If things don’t feel right we just go back to the basics, which tend to be alignment and ball position.
My Dad’s philosophy is: “The swing and equipment go hand in hand, one must complement the other to achieve the best results. Coaching should only be given when the player needs it, only ever reacting to what the ball is doing. Work backwards, starting with the basics, good basics and the right equipment equals the best you can be.”
So how was The Masters?
It was a great experience. Spinning balls across the lake with Danny (Willett) was amazing fun, as it’s always great to have a laugh on course when you can. Though it was slightly different over the first two rounds, as the conditions were brutal and just didn’t play anything like the practice days – but that’s golf. When you see top players who know the course inside out start to struggle, you know it’s going to be tough.
You appear to be settling in to life on the Tour and have picked up some great results early on. How have you been able to settle in so quickly?
I love it out here. The sun is nearly always shining and the courses are always set up so well, especially the greens. They are always fast and true, which really suits my game. I’ve also based myself in Orlando, so it’s easy get to events. To be up there in the final group with Rickie Fowler at the Honda Classic was a great experience and gave me a huge buzz. That’s what it’s all about. To then tie with Rory in fourth place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational just boosted my confidence a little more.
Would you look to base yourself on the US PGA Tour like Paul Casey?
Not at all. I’m a European Tour player and always will be. But I’m happy to play on both Tours and I can make my schedule work. After Hilton Head I will head back home to play the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. I’ve not played it since the changes to the course, so I’ll have five days to get to know the course again. It’s also great to be back home and not staying in an hotel room. Having your mates shouting for you at a tournament is brilliant support. After Wentworth it’s the HNA Open de France, played at the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup, and that’s a tournament we all have our sights on. Then it’s the Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, an event I came so close to winning last year. That’s ideal preparation for The Open the following week at Royal Birkdale.
You mentioned your dislike for bad weather but you did well in Scotland in 2016.
I can play in poor conditions. Don’t forget I’ve been playing in the UK since I was five years old. I just prefer to stay dry as much as possible these days! The great thing about links golf is that regardless of the conditions the greens are normally fast and true and that brings out the best in my game. To tie with Sergio and Rory in fifth place at The Open and then go on to win the Alfred Dunhill at St Andrews shows I’m not just a fair weather golfer.
Would you say that your short game was the main reason for your success?
I’ve always been confident around the greens ever since I first started playing and that’s never changed. The main thing that has helped is my ability to remain patient and enjoy the game. Before my win at the Alfred Dunhill I had been knocking on the door a few times but I didn’t get frustrated. I just knew that if I kept on knocking, one day soon the door would open. It’s also the team around me who are instrumental in my success. Off the course, my girlfriend Emily has been a rock, together with my Dad and my manager. It really helps to have great people around you, especially when you are away from home.
On the course, it’s great to have Ricey (Chris Rice) caddying for me. He’s a plus two golfer and he’s represented Lancashire, so he knows how a player thinks. With eight years experience on Tour he’s caddied for the winners of The BMW International twice and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship so he also knows what is required to get the job done at the highest level.
Have you got a favourite course in the Middle East?
I think the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, (above) home of the DP World Tour Championship, is my favourite visually, as I’ve had some good results there. But the Majlis at Emirates Golf Club is right up there as well.
What does Dubai mean to you as a player?
I just love it out there. The golf courses are always in fantastic condition. I used to watch the Desert Classic as a little kid and I’d even pretend to be ill to miss school so I could watch it. To be able to play in the event is pretty special and one I really enjoy coming back to.
What do you do to relax when you’re not playing golf?
Between events when I’m at home I like to see my friends, play a bit of Xbox or watch movies. When I’m away it’s just chilling out in the hotel room, really. If I’ve had an early tee time during a tournament I’ll usually have a little power nap at the hotel in the afternoon and listen to music. I still manage to play Xbox, mainly FIFA or Call of Duty online sometimes with my friends back home.
What does The Race to Dubai mean to you as a player?
To have the top 60 players on the European Tour all together at the end of the season is pretty special and it’s an event you aim to be in. Luckily, I’ve made it there for the last three years.
Have you been able to do anything fun in Dubai away from the course?
I’ve been go-karting which was fun and I managed to make sure I didn’t injure myself. I’ve recently gotten into tennis so that’s quite good for some down time – as long as it’s not raining!
IN THE BAG
Irons
I put the Ping i200 irons straight in play. I was using the ‘I’ series before these. I just really like how they come off the face. They launch higher with less spin and also on the miss-hits the gapping is a lot tighter. So you still get it close to the pin when you haven’t hit it so well. I’ve got the gapping between each club set at 12 yards, which are perfect numbers for my game. I also like the smaller heads in the shorter clubs and the larger heads in the longer irons, which also give a little bit of forgiveness.
Driver
G Series. I switched to that at the Irish Open last year and it’s been great. I’ve always played a Ping driver since I got on Tour. I just like the way the ball comes off the face and they are very forgiving, which is very important, especially for the driver.
Wedges
I’ve got the Ping Glide 2 wedges in play. They feel really soft off the face and from a feel factor that’s what I really like. They also spin a lot which is definitely a good thing.
Hybrid
I’ve got a G Series rescue. I usually struggle with rescues as I hit it slightly towards the toe. Most rescues have a lower spin so they go left but the G series is the best rescue club I’ve ever had and I don’t think I will be changing it any time soon.
Putter
I’m using the Ping Vault Olso. I put this in play in the first week of the Alfred Dunhill. It was a great week picking up my first win and we’ve had a good relationship since then. I really like the way it feels off the face and it’s more consistent than my previous putter.
