Hatton caps the month of his life

TYRRELL HATTON’S joyous July continued to the end yesterday. At the start of the month the 24-year-old from Marlow was simply another excellent English prospect.

He’s rather more than that now, after following up his runner-up finish at the Scottish Open and tied fifth place at The Open at Troon with a top 10 showing here in just his second American major.

Over those two weeks in Scotland he demonstrated his prowess for links golf, but what about the inland game? Here, over these sodden acres at the US PGA Championship, he showed he is a man for all surfaces.

Hatton (right) leapt on to the first page of the leaderboard by completing a fine third-round 66 yesterday morning. After returning to his rental home for a power nap, he came back and shot a wonderful final-round 68 to earn a good number of world ranking points.

He was 55th before this tournament began but is firmly on target now to realise his goal of cracking the top 50 by the end of the year to earn a first invitation to the Masters. ‘I’m really pleased with how it has gone,’ said Hatton. ‘It was a long third round spread over two days but I stayed patient and got my reward. I came here determined to keep my good run going and I’ve managed to do that.’ On the horizon now is a late run at earning a Ryder Cup place. He was nowhere before July but this has been the month that changed everything. Seventeenth in the automatic standings before this event — the top nine qualify automatically — he seems certain to move up three or four spots, with a month still to go.

If he can turn in an astounding August as well, who knows what might happen?

Hatton added: ‘It was great to finish with two birdies and earn a spot in the top 10. It’s been a fabulous three weeks that’s done wonders for my confidence.

‘The Ryder Cup? I can’t let that enter my thinking. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. My schedule is up in the air right now but I’m focusing on playing well.’

DEREK LAWRENSON