HATTON’S THIRD TITLE BLOWN AWAY

FROM Ryder Cup glory in Paris one Sunday to an extraordinary collapse at St Andrews yesterday, Tyrrell Hatton knows all about the contrasting emotions this fickle game can generate. Seemingly on the brink of a landmark personal achievement at the Alfred Dunhill Links to place alongside all the giddy excitement in a team environment a week earlier, the celebrations fell flat on the back nine. When he stepped on to the Old Course at the 10th tee, the 26-year-old was five strokes clear and with the tournament in the palm of his hand. He was poised to become the first man since Ernie Els in 2004 to win the same regular European Tour event three years in a row. The only others to complete victories in the same tour event for three successive years were Colin Montgomerie (at the PGA at Wentworth in 1998-2000) and Sir Nick Faldo (the Irish Open in 1991-93). It was then that Hatton discovered just why the club is so select, as things went horribly wrong. In brutal conditions, Hatton showed all his class over the front nine as he turned in 32 shots. But a shocking bogey at the 10th, one of the easiest holes on the day, led to a remarkable change of fortune. Another followed at the 11th and then two more errors at the 15th and 16th, as Hatton (right) lost his swing and his focus in the wind. Seven days after listening to the wisdom of one Dane, Thomas Bjorn in Versailles, Hatton presented another, Lucas Bjerregaard, with a most unexpected gift. ‘I thought we were all playing for second place,’ Bjerregaard said. ‘But I played well all day, and this turns what was already a very good year into one that is a whole lot better.’ Even if he needed considerable help from Hatton, Bjerregaard deserved credit for the admirable manner he crafted his 67 to move into top position. The 27-year-old finished runner-up to Matt Fitzpatrick at the European Masters in Crans last month, one of three top 10 finishes in his last four starts, so he was clearly a man in form. But, even at the end, he handed Hatton another way back into the contest, as he three-putted the 17th. Hatton, however, couldn’t get the birdie on offer at the 18th, missing from 10 feet in his bid to force extra holes. Hatton finished tied second alongside his Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood, who also had cause to look back on the final holes with regret. Fleetwood gave himself presentable birdie chances from 12 feet at the 16th and 18th but could not get either to fall. American Ryder Cup players Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau finished in a tie for seventh.