The likes of Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter have all steadily declined since quitting the PGA Tour and moving to LIV Golf.
Whether it’s the reduced schedule or lack of competition, some of golf’s previous elite are now well past their best. In fact, there’s even an argument to suggest some of LIV’s best-performing players aren’t playing as they should when the major championships roll around.
In 2024, Jon Rahm missed the cut at the PGA Championship and also finished T45 at the Masters Tournament. Elsewhere, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka had a high major finish of T26.
However, one LIV Golf star has categorically become one of the world’s best players since moving to the Saudi-backed venture.
Eddie Pepperell discusses Tyrrell Hatton’s world-class form
After impressing during his maiden LIV Golf season, Tyrrell Hatton has won twice on the DP World Tour, including last week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Given his form, Hatton has been tipped for a major breakthrough in 2025, and Eddie Pepperell has claimed his compatriot does not have a weakness.
“He doesn’t have a weakness. He is a fantastic iron player. Gutsy. The putt on the last was a gutsy putt to hole to win the tournament,” Pepperell told the Chipping Forecast.
“He is playing the best golf of his career, and I think most people have been critical of a number of LIV players who have gone and seemingly fallen out of form a bit; we could talk about Jon Rahm missing the cut. But Tyrrell is playing the best golf of his career, and he has been on LIV for a year or so. It’s good to see.
“I am from the same county as Tyrrell; I grew up playing a bit of golf with him. I know him and his Dad, and they are lovely people. And I am thrilled to see Tyrrell doing as well as he is. He is a great asset to the sport, so it’s a shame we talk about him as negatively as we do sometimes because of his behaviour. But his golf is the thing we should be talking about primarily, and he is a world-class player. He is one of the best players in the world.”
- READ MORE: PGA Tour urged to put penalty in place to stop other players doing what Tyrrell Hatton did in 2024
Can Tyrrell Hatton still qualify for the Ryder Cup?
Hatton will only play the majors between now and September’s Ryder Cup. As a result, the 32-year-old’s chances to cement his spot inside the European qualification places will be limited.
So far, however, Hatton couldn’t have done much more to give himself the best chance of making Luke Donald’s team. The Englishman played ten DP World Tour events in 2024, including the British Masters, which was when European Ryder Cup points scoring began.
After winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and Dubai Desert Classic, Hatton will stand a good chance of making the European team automatically. A major victory would cement his spot on Donald’s team, however.
Hatton is third in the qualification standings and is joined by Matt Wallace, Rory McIlroy, Paul Waring, Rasmus Hojgaard and Niklas Norgaard in the top six.
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