HATTONKEEPS THE HEAD TO TAKE BIG WIN
TYRRELL HATTON tamed Bay Hill and his own temper to win his first PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The new world No.22 becomes a contender for the Masters next month and certainty for the Ryder Cup team in September with the biggest victory of his career.
But the 28-year-old admitted he had to control his emotions on a brutal, blowy day in Florida where the average final round score was 75.06.
Leading by three shots after 10 holes, Hatton pulled his drive on the 11th into water on his way to a double bogey that could have derailed his round.
But after pretending to shoot the lake with his driver and giving the hole a “get it up you” gesture as he left the green the Buckinghamshire-based star recovered to play the final seven holes in level par to win by a stroke from playing partner Marc Leishman.
Hatton, who once joked his stage name would be “Head Case Hatton” if he were a DJ, said: “The hardest thing for me was trying to keep myself level-headed. I was getting frustrated at times but
BY NEIL McLEMAN nowhere near the blowups I am capable of.
“There were a few times where I did boil over a bit but nothing compared to what I’ve been in the past.
“I was just having a little moan, like it’s the grass’ fault and the wind’s fault. It’s never my fault.
“And it’s just one of those days where you’ve just got to stick in there and patience is one of the hardest things with me.”
Hatton closed with a 74 to finish on four under par – the highest score to win the Arnold Palmer since it began in 1979. Only four players finished in the red.
Former US Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger questioned the bottle of European players after Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood failed to win the Honda Classic last weekend.
Hatton said: “I don’t think it’s a statement. Whatever Tour you play on it is extremely hard to win tournaments and we’re all trying to do that each week.
“And more often than not I guess things maybe don’t go your way and you end up not winning. Everyone’s time comes.”