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Dornan whips Hatton into shape after Masters row
HOW ironic that when that arch golf masochist Tyrrell Hatton plays alongside the
Fifty Shades of Grey actor Jamie Dornan in the Alfred Dunhill Links, he never beats himself up.
What a contrast to last week, when his behaviour over the weekend at the British Masters left many feeling the need to give him a verbal lashing. ‘You need to grow up, mate,’ wrote former tour pro Gary Evans on Twitter. ‘Your on course whingeing and body language is a disgrace.’
No such tantrums when Dornan is his playing partner. Hatton claimed his first title on tour with the Northern Irishman for company at this event last year and he is in the box seat once more after following up a wonderful 65 at Carnoustie on Friday with another at Kingsbarns yesterday to take a commanding five-shot lead into today’s final round at St Andrews.
‘To win once at the Home of Golf last year was fabulous but to win again would be the stuff of dreams,’ said the personable Englishman.
You’d think this pro-am format and its near six-hour rounds would be the last thing a man who struggles with his temperament would need but with Dornan keeping him loose it is proving the exact opposite.
‘As soon as I’ve hit a shot we’re talking and having a laugh and so it keeps my mind from dwelling on where the shot might have ended up,’ said Hatton. ‘He keeps me calm.’
What does he think of Dornan’s films? ‘Oh, I haven’t seen that one, if that’s what you mean,’ said the 25-yearold from High Wycombe. ‘I can tell you, though, that he has a very loyal fan base out here who enjoy watching him.’ They’ve got a good sense of humour, too. On Thursday in the freezing cold at St Andrews, one autograph seeker shouted: ‘Come over here Jamie, will ya, we’re turning 50 shades of blue.’ Dornan, would you believe, hails from the same small town near Belfast as Rory McIlroy. For a while, Holywood’s other superstar looked as if he was playing his last round of the season after an ugly double bogey at his 11th hole, the second on the card. McIlroy rallied, however, reeling off four birdies in a row at one point to card a 68 to make it through to the final round on the limit. He won’t win today but, after a crowd-pleasing nine birdies yesterday, expect a few more as he signs off at the most evocative course of all.
Hatton had begun the day tied for the lead with Tommy Fleetwood but the leader of the Race to Dubai went in the opposite direction as the excitement of the last week appeared to catch up with the new Dad. There was always going to be a price to pay as well for having the temerity to go around Carnoustie, of all venues, in 63 shots on Friday. This time he was fully 13 shots worse, and today will be all about picking up as many points as he can to extend his lead at the top.
Frenchman Gregory Bourdy lies second with British Masters winner Paul Dunne, who took full advantage of Hatton’s collapse at Close House last week, seven shots behind in third place.