Bob is hot to trot as he chases first win in Turkey
Tyrrell Hatton has pledged to keep his cool as he chases a first victory for two years in the Turkish Airlines Open, where compatriot Eddie Pepperell suffered an embarrassing exit.
Hatton carded a third round of 65 to share second place in Antalya with Oban’s Bob Macintyre, former US Masters champion Patrick Reed, Ross Fisher and Benjamin Hebert, three shots behind leader Matthias Schwab.
In contrast, Pepperell did not even finish his round and was disqualified for failing to complete the fourth hole, his 13th of the day.
Pepperell was two-over-par for the round after dropping shots on the second and third and then hit his approach to the next into the water guarding the green.
In a scene reminiscent of the film ‘Tin Cup’, Pepperell had several more attempts – even his caddie could not say for certain whether it was four or five – before informing playing partners Martin Kaymer and George Coetzee that he had run out of balls.
Pepperell is likely to fined by the European Tour for the incident, something Hatton has experience of after acts of petulant on-course behaviour, including smashing a tee marker at the World Cup in Melbourne in November 2018.
“There are times where I can’t help myself, but that’s just me,” the 28-year-old Ryder Cup winner said.
“Obviously, if I can keep myself as cool as I can be tomorrow then I’ll give myself the best chance possible and that’s all I can ask for.
“I’ve felt a big performance coming. Normally I’m quite a negative person but, in the last sort of month, I’ve actually felt quite confident. The putting is the one thing I’ve kind of struggled with a little bit.
“I’ve actually gone back to the same shape of putter I used when I won twice back in 2017 and got my first win with the year before. I do have some good memories with that and hopefully it can provide some magic tomorrow.”
Schwab is chasing a first European Tour title but has been in superb form recently and his third round of 66 was the Austrian’s 30th sub-par score in his last 34 rounds.
“I’ll try to do the same stuff I’ve been doing the last few days and I’m sure pars will not be enough tomorrow because it’s usually pretty gettable out here,” Schwab said. “I’ll just be aggressive and keep doing what I’ve been doing.”
Reed believes the second sub-60 round in European Tour history could be possible after he let several shots slip in his 65.
“I three-putted the 13th from five feet, which turned a birdie opportunity into a bogey and missed a really short one on the fourth as well and that’s three shots right there and that’s a 10-under par round,” the former Augusta champion said.
“That’s not including the other putts that I feel like I missed or stuff I let get away. So I wouldn’t be surprised if someone could go shoot 59, 60, 61 out here. It’s out there, especially with how benign the wind has been and how warm, so the ball is travelling.”
Macintyre illustrated that point by driving the green on the parfour 15th and holing from three feet for an eagle, the 23-year-old left-hander then picking up shots on the 16th and 18th to complete a 67.
Macintyre leads the race to be crowned European Tour rookie of the year after three runners-up finishes this season, as well as a tie for sixth in the Open, and said: “I’ve shot under par every time in those situations, so I’m just going to play my golf.
“I’m going to stick to my game plan, being aggressive on approach shots and driver off almost every tee. Just got to keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully that will be good at the end of the week.”
Fellow Scots Scott Jamieson and Richie Ramsay are on 13-under and 11-under-par respectively.