Tyrrell Hatton might be in contention to win the Dubai Desert Classic but as is becoming all too regular for the Englishman, it’s matters outside of his golf performance causing headlines.
Hatton finished the third round on -12, just one shot behind David Hillier at the summit and he goes into the final day very much one of the big favourites to win.
Hatton, of course, is looking to do well in the big DP World Tour events as he looks to get enough Ryder Cup points to qualify automatically. A win in Dubai would go a long way to doing just that.
However, as has been the case so often with Hatton in recent months, his behaviour on the course is making headlines.
And after Hatton was called childish just a few months back, he’s once again let his emotions get the better of him.
Tyrrell Hatton admits frustration at Dubai Desert Classic
Hatton took his frustration out on the seventh tee by breaking one of the markers on the tee box and he was questioned by officials when he handed his scorecard over.
The Englishman tried to play down the situation, though.
“Just a bit of frustration. Probably shouldn’t have done it. Does it make me a bad person? No. It’s just a spur of the moment thing and it happened. I can’t go back and change it, so move on,” Hatton said.
“I was told about it in scoring. I don’t have an issue with what was being said. I’m aware that it’s not the right thing to do but in the heat of the moment when you’re frustrated, you just do things that you probably wish you didn’t do. I’m not going to let it bother me for the rest of the day. If that’s the worst thing I do as a human, then, I mean, it’s not that bad.”
However, while Hatton played it down, over on social media, golf fans were once again giving him some hammer.
Indeed, over on X, it very much seems some people are getting fed up with Hatton’s antics.
Golf fans slam Tyrrell Hatton again at the Dubai Desert Classic
Hatton is very much marmite when it comes to these outbursts in the golfing community.
However, on this occasion, he has been heavily criticised by a number of golf fans.
While another fan suggested things would be different if Hatton was at an amateur club.
“I know where I golf if I was caught damaging the tee-block I’d be made to pay for it and moving forward I’d probably have trouble getting a tee-time.“
Carrying on the discussion, @dose_of_close suggested a big fine for any sort of damage.
“Tournaments should advise players that these things are $1M a piece to replace and if they’re going to destroy them they will foot the bill.”
With @AMLindbergh even going as far as to call Hatton a ‘toddler’ for his behaviour.
“Honestly the biggest douchebag in golf – and this whole schtick with Hatton is so damn tedious and old. He’s a toddler, and needs to grow up”
Another fan calling Hatton out for not taking accountability was @Madi39, who claimed Hatton was full of excuses.
“lol zero accountability, just oh well i did it, blame it on my frustration. He’s a grown adult capable of controlling his emotions”
And finally, in an interesting thought provoking point, @Davemack1 suggested golf introduces a tennis style punishment for such outbursts.
“How about having a tennis style ‘equipment abuse’ penalty for these actions? Two shot penalty?”
With Hatton in contention to win, it will be interesting to see if he can rein his emotions in, or somehow use them to his advantage to get the win.
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