Tyrrell Hatton once again proved what a big miss he has been throughout the majority of the DP World Tour season, with the Englishman finishing second to Paul Waring at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this past week.
Tyrrell Hatton has had an outstanding 2024 following his move to LIV Golf. The 33-year-old won on LIV before his Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm by triumphing in Nashville, and he ended the year fourth in the individual standings.
He followed that by winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship for a third time on the DP World Tour. And it appeared that he was well placed to potentially clinch the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for a second time after an opening round of eight under par.
Unfortunately for Hatton, he seemed to leave himself too much to do with Paul Waring leaving the rest of the field behind before the weekend. There was some tension on Sunday, but Hatton’s 64 was not enough to prevent his countryman winning.
Tyrrell Hatton closing in on securing Ryder Cup spot
The result lifts Hatton up to first in the European Ryder Cup points standings ahead of 2025 at Bethpage Black. And speaking on The First Cut Podcast, Greg DuCharme suggested that Hatton is playing well enough to feel that he has one foot in the locker room in New York already.
“Everywhere he’s played, he’s been phenomenal. We know where he stands, but what’s clear is he can make a lot of noise and a lot of headway in a limited amount of events, other than the LIV events. It’s obviously a very full schedule, but to put yourself in this position to be sixth on the DP World Tour in nine events is rather impressive and goes a long way for your Ryder Cup chances the following year,” he said.
“For the Jon Rahms and the Rory McIlroys and Viktor Hovlands; those guys you kind of know are going to be on the team. Hatton would be in that next tier where you’ve got to show that you’re playing well. And boy, he’s getting closer to locking up an auto spot right now with the way he’s played. It’s been so consistent and steady for a long period of time, so hats off to Tyrrell Hatton.”
Where Hatton currently ranks in the Ryder Cup standings
In truth, it is hard to see a world where Hatton does not make the team whatever happens – unless he struggles with injury over the coming months. Not only has he been so impressive in 2024, but he has three previous appearances in the event.
Hatton is someone Luke Donald could easily partner with Jon Rahm. They have played together previously, and you would imagine that their bond has got even stronger since they both jumped to LIV Golf.
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Tyrrell Hatton |
| 2 | Rasmus Højgaard |
| 3 | Matt Wallace |
| 4 | Rory McIlroy |
| 5 | Paul Waring |
| 6 | Niklas Norgaard |
| 7 | Julien Guerrier |
| 8 | Dan Bradbury |
| 9 | Jorge Campillo |
| 10 | Thorbjorn Olesen |
| 11 | Angel Hidalgo |
| 12 | Matteo Manassero |
Perhaps it would not necessarily be the best look if Donald keeps the two LIV players together across the week at Bethpage. But it does appear that the core of the European team do not particularly care what tour Rahm and Hatton are involved in if they are going to help secure the first away win since 2012.
They want the best team travelling stateside – and Hatton is definitely proving that he deserves a spot on that side.
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