Tyrrell in pole position as he revs up to secure back-to-back successes
Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton yesterday put himself on the brink of a dream back-to-back victory at St Andrews.
The Englishman opened up a five-shot lead heading into today’s final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Hatton equalled the course record at the home of golf last year on his way to a four-shot victory and a first European Tour title.
Yesterday’s bogey-free 65 put him in a commanding position to defend his crown.
After opening with a 68 on the Old Course on Thursday, he followed that with a 65 at Carnoustie and then matched that mark at Kingsbarns to move him to 18-under-par, with Frenchman Gregory Bourdy his closest challenger.
Ireland’s Paul Dunne was then at 11-under with former world No. 1 Luke Donald and fellow Englishman Ross Fisher a further shot back. But all eyes will be on Hatton when he tees off today.
The 25-year-old got up to 14th in the world rankings in March, before enduring a frustrating summer but that will all be forgotten should he become the first man to successfully defend this title.
“Last year this event was a fantastic moment for me,” Hatton said. “It’s great to be back and I’m enjoying my first defence.
“Last year was a new experience for me going out leading a tournament and I managed to do a really good job. I made myself very difficult to catch, hopefully I can do that again tomorrow.
“I’ll certainly try my best to do that. That’s all anyone can ever do, is try their best and I’ll certainly do that.
“To win at the home of golf once is incredible but to do it again and defend would be a dream come true.”
Starting on the back nine, he birdied the 10th, 12th and 14th, hit a brilliant approach to the first and then did well to get up and down from a bunker on the third.
Another birdie on the fourth handed him a six-shot lead and while Bourdy closed the gap, a closing gain put Hatton in further control.
Bourdy made four birdies-in-arow from the third in a 66 at Carnoustie, while Dunne – who claimed a first professional win at last week’s British Masters – had three birdies and a bogey in a 70 at Kingsbarns.
Fisher birdied six of his last seven holes at Kingsbarns for a 67, while Donald also produced a big finish with four gains in seven holes.
Four-time Major champion, Rory McIlroy, just squeezed into the top 60 who made the cut ahead of today’s final round over The Old Course.
The Northern Irishman shot a four-under-par round of 68 at Kingsbarns to make the cut on the bubble at four-under.
McIlroy said: “I wish I hadn’t bogeyed the last. But yeah, it was a bit of an up-and-down day. I had eight birdies, two bogeys and a double out there, so there’s a bit of everything.
“I knew I needed to shoot at least 68, if not better.
“I’ll just go out and enjoy myself. It’s my last competitive round of the year. It’s going to be around St. Andrews, which is nice.
“Go out and enjoy myself, have a good time. Try and shoot a good score and end the season on a bit of a positive note.
“I think Tyrrell needs Jamie Dornan as his caddie. I think he just needs to get him as his caddie and Jamie can pack up the acting and they can go out on Tour.
“What he’s doing, he’s playing very impressively. He loves these three courses. I thought someone might have pushed him today and got a bit closer, but it just shows how well he’s playing, and it’s his to lose tomorrow.”