It says a lot about Tyrrell Hatton’s behaviour on the golf course that his impressive victory at the Dubai Desert Classic is only one of the talking points surrounding the Englishman in the days since the event.
Tyrrell Hatton confirmed his place as one of the best players on the planet right now, with the 33-year-old moving up to eighth in the world rankings following his victory at the Dubai Desert Classic. Hatton has been tipped to contend at the Masters and potentially win his first major in 2025.
However, it seems safe to say that Hatton is not everyone’s cup of tea.
Of course, Hatton faced criticism for snapping his club at the DP World Tour Championship late last year.
And while he did win this past week, he was unable to prevent his frustration getting the better of him in Dubai.
Tyrrell Hatton facing more criticism despite his victory at the Dubai Desert Classic
Hatton was slammed for smashing a tee marker during his third round. It definitely appears that he is not looking to make drastic changes to his attitude on the course anytime soon.
That may disappoint some, with one argument often made that it must be distracting for his playing partners. Every golfer knows how uncomfortable it can be when playing alongside someone who is struggling with their game.
However, it seems that many have little problem with Hatton’s antics. Speaking on The Chipping Forecast podcast, journalist Iain Carter noted how he got a sense that his peers are genuinely unfazed by the prospect of playing alongside the three-time Ryder Cup star.
“One of the main concerns I have about that sort of behaviour is how it can potentially affect playing partners. And if it’s a breach of etiquette which drags down the golfing experience of the people you are playing, that for me is when you are crossing into the territory that you shouldn’t be going into,” he said.
“He was playing with Laurie Canter and knowing that Laurie would give a straight answer to a straight question we asked him and he said no, he is great to play with, he is good company and his etiquette is very good. He is very funny and all the tantrums he has are all directed at himself and don’t have a negative impact on the players you are playing with.
“I was thinking at the time that is a very professional answer and golfers never really slag off their colleagues in the media. But the microphones went down and Laurie said ‘I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, but it’s true’. And was very supportive of him. I think that is something that people have to bear in mind if playing colleagues are feeling that way.”
Why golf figures need to be wary of how they treat players like Tyrrell Hatton
There is absolutely no question that Hatton crosses a line sometimes. Broadcasters have spoken of being sick of apologising for Hatton’s behaviour. However, there is a fine line.
Ultimately, golf is struggling to retain fans right now. So if viewers are tuning in to see what Hatton might do, that is not entirely a bad thing. He is now one of the most engaging and unique characters in the current game.
Of course, golf does not need people mirroring what they see Hatton do on the course. However, the game also cannot afford to drive out all of the figures who make the sport a little more interesting at a time when fans are fed up with a lot of what they are being served up.
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