Tyrrell Hatton was probably the one player everyone wanted to get inside the mind of on Sunday as the Englishman completed his final round of LIV Golf UK at JCB.
It would have been incredibly bittersweet feelings for Tyrrell Hatton at LIV Golf UK. Legion XIII sealed their fourth team title of the season to move closer to Crushers GC, but Hatton’s bogey on the final hole saw him lose the individual title to teammate Jon Rahm.
Hatton teed off on 18 knowing that a birdie would be enough for his second individual win since making the jump to LIV ahead of this season, and it seemed that he got a perfect drive away.
Unfortunately, his approach left him with a long birdie putt, and he ultimately needed three to get down for a bogey. It probably did not help that Rahm was waiting on the back of 18, well aware that Legion XIII would be claiming both titles one way or another, as Hatton dropped back into a tie for second place.
Tyrrell Hatton wants one hole at JCB changed after LIV Golf UK
Hatton admitted after that the team win did not soften the blow. And speaking in the winning team’s press conference, the 32-year-old suggested that he was not a fan of the setup of the 18th hole.
“Bogeying the last, I have hit a perfect tee shot over the line we are all meant to hit. I would say the 18th is one hole which 54 players would like to see changed before we come back next year,” he said.
“I don’t think the tee shot I hit there deserves to be in the semi and I’m playing a guessing game of whether it’s going to come out with no spin or with spin. I guessed wrong and it leaves it in a really tricky spot to two putt and I wasn’t able to hole that two footer to force a play off.”
In the Englishman’s defence…
It is hard not to have a little sympathy for Hatton, as his tee shot was so close to being absolutely perfect before rolling away over into the semi-rough. However, golf can sometimes be extremely cruel, even when someone has hit what appears to be an outstanding shot.
Ultimately, the lie did not appear to be a terrible one for a player of Hatton’s calibre, even if he was not entirely sure how the ball would come out.
In fairness, golfers are rarely forced to sit with the winner in a press conference just after they have made a bogey to lose a tournament, so you can understand why the feelings may have seemed a bit raw. Hatton is also someone who does not hide his emotions very well out on the course – which is one of the reasons why he is so popular with many. It is actually refreshing to hear him admit that the team win does not mean as much.
He definitely got a bad break, but it would be a surprise if that persuaded JCB to make significant changes ahead of next year.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
