TYRRELL SET TO BE HATT-TRICK HERO
BUSTED KEATON: Jennings is toiling RYDER CUP-winner Tyrrell Hatton fired a 66 at St Andrews to put himself on course for a third consecutive victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Just six says after being part of Europe’s thumping victory at Le Golf National, Hatton stood on the brink of making more history as he looked to become just the second Englishman after Sir Nick Faldo to win the same European Tour event three years in succession.
Faldo won the Irish Open between 1991 and 1993.
Hatton will enter the final day at St Andrews on 14 under par, one shot clear of Australian Marcus Fraser and three ahead of countryman and fellow Ryder
MATT PRIOR has urged England to take a risk and pick two new openers for the Test battles with Sri Lanka.
The former wicketkeeper insists a fresh new approach is needed to solve the problem of replacing Alastair Cook rather than sticking with Keaton Jennings.
Prior, 36, claims Jennings has had enough chances and is lucky to be on the tour after flopping badly during the summer.
Rory Burns (right) and Joe Denly are vying for the opportunity to make their debuts in Galle on November 6 and Prior insists that they must be thrown in at the deep end.
He said: “It’s time to really throw caution to the wind now that Cookie has gone. “I would play two new openers in the first Test because we desperately need to get that problem resolved.
“I would not start with Keaton Jennings.
“He’s had enough chances and is pretty fortunate to get his place on the tour.
“It is clear he is struggling for form and runs and he did not do Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood and Scottish 2004 champion Stephen Gallacher.
“I’m certainly going to go out there tomorrow and give it my best,” said Hatton.
“To join that club would be so special. We’re in a good position going into the final day and that’s all we can ask for.”
Hatton led by three at the turn after he birdied the second, eagled the par-five fifth and made another eagle on the par-four ninth after driving the green.
When he bogeyed the 12th, his lead was cut to one by Fleetwood – who had made gains on the first, second, third, enough in the summer to warrant keeping his place in the side.
“You badly need a good start in Sri Lanka. You need guys who are confident and in form and Burns and Denly were outstanding for their counties during the summer and are the in-form guys.
“The wickets are good for batting and if those two can get decent starts to their Test careers England will benefit long-term.”
Prior has backed the decision for Jonny Bairstow to keep the gloves going into the series despite suggestions that
Jos Buttler could oust him from behind the stumps.
He said: “It’s the right call.
“I would stick with Jonny because he has the qualities to be a top keeperbatsman in the mould of an
Alec Stewart or Kumar Sangakkara.
“Jos can just cement his place as a batsman and doesn’t need the added role of being behind the stumps.
“Jonny should keep the gloves and bat at number five where he is most comfortable.” fifth and eighth – but Hatton birdied the 13th and 14th to lead by three again.
Fleetwood birdied the 10th and 12th and a Hatton bogey on the 17th saw him caught but he birdied the last before Fleetwood three-putted the 16th and 17th to slip back.
Fraser recovered from a bogey on the second with six birdies in a 67, while Gallacher birdied the
10th, 12th, 16th, sixth, seventh and ninth.
Lucas Bjerregaard and Andrea Pavan were 10 under, one clear of a group of five players containing reigning US Open and PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka.