Hatton ready to target Carnoustie
Englishman’s sixth-placed finish at the US Open puts him in major contention
What with Tommy Fleetwood’s flirtation with history and Phil Mickelson’s entanglement with infamy it was all too easy to overlook who came sixth in the US Open. But for Tyrrell Hatton, the performance at Shinnecock Hills could prove to be one of the most important of his career and certainly of this season.
The Englishman went in with an alarming sense of deja vu. A fine opening to 2018 had given way to four missed cuts in his previous starts and for Hatton that was eerily familiar to last year’s campaign, which, again after a promising opening, saw him plummet out of the world’s top 30 with six missed cuts in seven.
“To be honest, it was similar, yes, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried,” Hatton said. “Just like in 2017, a wrist issue had flared up and required a steroid injection. It meant I went into tournaments such as Wentworth [the BMW PGA Championship] rusty and I got on a run of missed cuts or finishes outside the top 40. It became a habit for a while last year and obviously I wanted to break the cycle. The week at home I had before Shinnecock was crucial.”
In truth, Hatton has never been a prolific visitor to the range. In this regard, the 26-year-old compares to Colin Montgomerie, as, like the great Scot, he prefers to keep his swing free and his mind uncluttered of technical thoughts. “I just played a lot of rounds in that seven days and found my rhythm again. I went over believing I could turn a corner.”
As well as a fresh attitude, there was a new man on the bag. Hatton’s decision last month to split with Jonathan Bell was curious, if only because the long-time friends enjoyed such success in their nine months together. Indeed, Bell’s calming influence was viewed as key in arresting the slide of the at times combustible Hatton. The pair lifted back-to-back titles in Fife and Milan after just two events together.
“When JB and I got together it was only ever meant to be temporary and not permanent,” Hatton explained. “JB still had his own ambitions to play on Tour and it was like we were just helping each other out. But everything started that well, we just carried on. It was when things began to get tough that I thought it put a strain on our relationship and, with our friendship in mind, parting ways was the right thing to do. JB did a great job, but I’ve been impressed with Punk.”
“Punk” is Mark Crane, who used to caddie for Chris Wood. Course management is everything at the US Open, especially on a course as severe as Shinnecock, and Crane helped Hatton retain his patience and faith in the game plan. But for a hotter week with the putter, Hatton, the world No 23, would surely have bettered his fifth place at the 2016 Open, his best finish in a major thus far.
“Apart from one on the ninth on Sunday, I didn’t really hole anything all week and I was only five shots off the winning score – so I have to be positive,” he said. “Playing the back nine in level par on Saturday was the highlight, as some of those pins were well dodgy.
“I played with Patrick Reed and on the 15th he was standing by the pin when I chipped up. Patrick told me my ball actually stopped a foot away – but then it started to roll and roll, all the way off the green. Ridiculous, really.
“But I left Shinnecock with confidence renewed and looking forward to this stretch in Europe coming up. I didn’t do myself justice in this run last year, which was a big shame as I think it suits me.”
Hatton only lasted two rounds at the French, Irish and Scottish Opens, before also going home early at the Open proper. “Four depressing weeks,” is how he remembers it and even allowing for the wrist complaint, they were mystifying, too. With his two wins in the Dunhill Links as well as runner-up in the Scottish Open two years ago, which led on to that breakthrough display at Royal Troon, Hatton has proven thrillingly adept at seaside golf.
Le Golf National is nowhere near the ocean, but it does have a decidedly links feel to it and the fact the Versailles layout plays host to the Ryder Cup in September will afford the Hatton pulse yet another reason to soar when he tees it up in Thursday’s first round of the French Open.
The points Hatton earned at Shinnecock cemented his position at the top of the European standings and he is all but certain to make his debut. “Yeah, my place is looking more and more secure, but I won’t be taking anything for granted until I hear my name in the team in August.
“All these big tournaments coming up make it easy to keep the Ryder Cup in the back of my mind. I like the French and feel I could have a big week there, while I shot a 65 at Gullane in the last round there in 2015 [the last time it hosted the Scottish Open].”
And Carnoustie for the Open in three weeks’ time? As one of the three host courses for the Dunhill Links, Hatton goes to the beast of Angus chasing an unprecedented hat-trick.
“I shot 65 there the last time I played it and, go on then, I suppose I would take four 65s if you offered them!” he said. “Look, Carnoustie’s going to be an entirely different test, much less forgiving, but I do go back there with good vibes.”
As does British golf as a whole. “There were five of us in the top 12 at the US Open, that’s pretty good isn’t it?” he said. “And Tommy has to be one of the favourites for Carnoustie. I saw him in the locker room after that 65 on Sunday and we had a chat.
“I told him my fingers were tightly crossed and I really thought he might have done enough. Brooks [Koepka] played incredibly down the stretch to beat him by one, but Tommy’s only 27 and has years in front of him to knock off one or more majors. Just like me, really.”
‘I shot 65 last time I played Carnoustie. I suppose I would take four 65s this time’