Hatton is coming right into fashion
After two top finishes in Scotland, rising English star ready for a crack at US PGA
THERE was a certain appropriateness to Tyrrell Hatton driving up to Nottingham on Thursday to attend the graduation of his girlfriend Emily Braisher, who earned a firstclass honours degree for fashion.
How long can it be until the 24-year-old from Marlow is the height of fashion himself, following a stunning fortnight in Scotland?
After holing a nerveless 10ft birdie putt to be runner-up in the Scottish Open and earn himself one of the last spots in The Open at Troon, Hatton seized the moment such that he finished alongside Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia in the top five.
Today, he will travel to New Jersey for the season’s final major, the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol this week, where all sorts of enticing possibilities have come into view.
On his website, he talks about one day making it into the world’s top 50 — but already he has climbed to 55th and even moved on to the radar for Europe’s Ryder Cup team for the clash at Hazeltine in September.
Heady stuff, but sensibly he is putting all such thoughts to the back of his mind.
‘I have to say I was a bit taken aback when a friend messaged me the Ryder Cup standings, as I’d not looked at them all season,’ he said.
‘My manager, John Fay, texts me the world rankings each Monday, so I know I’m progressing. But they’re not things that cross my mind.
‘Obviously I’d love to play in the Ryder Cup and crack the top 50 to earn a spot at the Masters. But, after such a good fortnight in Scotland, my only real focus right now is to keep it going at the US PGA.’
The fact his schedule is up in the air thereafter is indicative of the fact that, if he does keep it going, he will add tournaments in Europe next month in a concerted push for the team at Hazeltine.
Hatton has been talked up by good judges for some time now but the big question mark always concerned his temperament. Time and again a good run of holes would end with a bogey, leading to him gesticulating wildly — frustration written all over his face — and he would lose his concentration and his way.
‘That side of the game hasn’t been easy for me as I’m not a patient person by nature,’ he said. An epiphany occurred at the PGA Championship at Wentworth in May, when a third-round 66 secured him a place in the final group on a Sunday at a European Tour event for the first time.
‘That was a learning experience for me,’ he said. ‘I didn’t get off to a quick start, missing some birdie opportunities, and my head dropped when I saw what Chris (Wood, the eventual winner, who went out in 29) was doing. I tried to force the issue.
‘At the end, I looked at the leaderboard and saw if I’d just stayed patient and shot 70, I’d have won the tournament. I made sure I remem- bered that down the stretch at the Scottish Open, and my caddie (Chris Rice) reminded me too. It was a huge improvement.’
Hatton’s big fortnight in Scotland netted him almost £600,000 and lifted him into the top 10 in the Race to Dubai. Last year he was 35th.
He plans to treat himself, although the nation’s luxury car manufacturers and estate agents can stand down. ‘I’ll get a couple of pairs of Nike trainers,’ he said. ‘I have a real weakness for them.’
Hatton is delighted to see his name alongside the growing company of young Englishmen making a mark at the highest levels. Taught by his father Jeff, who owns a golf academy in Marlow, the next step is to join Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Danny Willett and last week’s cult hero Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston in the winner’s circle.
‘It’s great to see so many Englishmen do well and it does spur you on. I was really pleased for Beef last week, as he’s such a nice guy, and Matt has had such a great start to his pro career.
‘Then there’s Woody, Sully, and Danny at the Masters, the list just goes on. Hopefully it will be my turn soon,’ he said.