Tyrrell Hatton faces a fine after furiously snapping his club in half at the DP World Tour Championship on Saturday, an act of petulance that saw the Ryder Cup man labelled “a terrible influence”.
The Englishman’s tantrum followed another fit of rage earlier in the third round, when he carelessly yanked a one-foot putt in anger.
And in the holes in between there was a succession of expletives as his challenge at the season-ender veered off track, most notably on the 11th. After missing a short birdie putt at Jumeirah Golf Estates, he shouted, “f— you, f—— s— greens” before banging his putter down on the green.
A Tour spokesperson later revealed that he will be punished. “Tyrrell Hatton’s behaviour breached the DP World Tour’s Code of Conduct within the Members’ General Regulations and he will be fined as a result,” he said.
Hatton’s short fuse is renowned on the fairways, but even by his standards his reaction to pushing his approach on the par-five 14th at the Earth Course in Dubai was beyond the pale. The 33-year-old forced his nine-iron into the turf, ensuring that it was beyond repair and in the commentary booth, Sky Sports lead presenter Ewen Murray had seen enough.
“Oh no, no, no… it’s time for change I’m afraid, that’s a terrible influence on the next generation,” said Murray, himself a former Tour player. “I’m sorry to say it, I’m his biggest supporter as a golfer, but just have a look at this? Why? Why would you do that?”
Hatton duly chipped in for a birdie, but the incident left a stench, with Paul McGinley, the 2014 Ryder Cup captain, also declaring that the world No 18 must quickly alter his conduct.
“Tyrrell is not the bad guy he comes across here,” he said. “All of us who know him behind the scenes, know a different Tyrrell to what we see on the course. His behaviour is not acceptable and I think tonight, when he cools down and his team [and] his wife, have words with him, there will be a lot of humble pie.
“He will know, like a lot of people who have any kind of issues in their life, that you almost hit rock bottom before you decide, ‘I’ve got to do something about this’. I think this could be a day when he may well realise that he’s got to a level where this is not acceptable.
“He has to have more respect for the game and his fellow competitors. As tough as it is to watch, imagine the playing partners having to play with him and listen to him the whole way round. I think Tyrrell will realise that it is time to change, I hope he does.
“Because what a phenomenal player, I’d put him in the top five players in the world. That’s how good this guy is. He’s not just capable of winning one major, but multiple majors.
“The embarrassment that he’s gonna have this week with the certain things that have gone on with him may well force and instigate change. Because this is a guy who has had a great run the last few weeks remember. He won the Dunhill, second last week [in Abu Dhabi], going strong again this week and it’s not like he’s having a bad time with his game.”
Wentworth HQ is certainly taking a grim view of Hatton’s antics. The Tour does not usually publish sanctions against its members, but it left no doubt that disciplinary action will follow. It will not be the first time that Hatton has been obliged to send in a cheque.
When asked earlier this year how much he has been forced to pay out in terms of punishment he replied: “How much I’ve been fined? I think you’d actually be shocked.”
The irony is that Hatton is only playing in Dubai because he has appealed the fines he picked up for playing on the LIV Golf League, the Saudi-funded circuit he joined in January.
Hatton still has the opportunity to go one better than last week in the final round. After a 71 that took him to nine-under, he is only three behind the pacesetters, Rory McIlroy, Rasmus Hojgaard and Antoine Rozner.
McIlroy is all but assured his sixth order of merit title, but his aim is to receive two trophies at the awards ceremony on the 18th green on Sunday evening. His 68 featured six birdies and two bogeys. “It’s a great opportunity to end the year on a really high note,” McIlroy said.
