If ever you wanted validation of the old adage, " the toughest golf course in the world is the one between your ears" you just had to watch the back nine antics of Tyrrell Hatton this morning, who needs a great big dose of maturity so he can get on with realizing what great potential he has, and how lucky he is to have it.
With 4 straight birdies on his front nine on a blustery morning at St Andrews, the rest of the field had conceded the little Englishman's 3rd win in a row at this Dunhill Links Championship. He was 4 shots clear and looked certain to join Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els with wins in the same event in three consecutive seasons.
However a bogey at 10, and a 3 putt bogey at 11 saw his lead down to 2 shots, however he was still winning, but his demeanour was shocking. He was so angry at himself and the golfing gods, grimacing skywards, holding his head in his hands, he couldn't get out of his own way. Two more bogey's at 15 and 16 and his lead was gone, never to be regained. He just couldn't control himself and it cost him the championship. He came home in 40 for a E 72 -14 total.
Meanwhile Danish star Lucas Bjerregaard was plugging away some 6 shots behind, but was playing very well and after a 30 foot birdie at the 16th, he posted a brilliant round of 67 -15 total, to catch Hatton and win his second European Tour title.
Hatton finished second alongside countryman and fellow Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood at -14, with Finn Tapio Pulkkanen at -12
The big tall Dane with the hard to spell name, Bjerregaard has been a very consistent performer since graduating from the Qualifying School in 2013, never finishing lower than 90th in the Race to Dubai Rankings and winning the Portugal Masters in 2017 to go with the GolfSixes title alongside Thorbjørn Olesen.
The 27 year old had three consecutive top tens before finishing in the top 20 at his Portugal Masters title defence and will now move into the top ten in the Race to Dubai Rankings after his sparkling run of form.
“It didn't really look like I was ever in it today, it looked like Tyrrell was going to take off with it. I was trucking away at it. I've been playing well for a little while and I played really well today and I'm really pleased that it was enough.”
He doesn't travel to this side of the Atlantic very much, I heard he has a dislike of flying, so is little known here, but watch out for this guy for future Ryder Cups.
Speaking of which Tyrrell Hatton said in an interview from the Ryder Cup that he was going to stay as calm as possible for his team because he is well aware how he has lost in the past when he is so hard on himself, getting in his own way is the term.
Well here is a week later, Ryder Cup winner, completely losing it at the slightest adversity. He didn't conduct himself graciously as the defending champion at all, which is a shame for himself and his family at such a wonderful event, and on the Old Course of all places.
There are two events left for the top 116 to qualify for the Race to Dubai playoffs. Francesco Molinari is the run away leader.
Bryan Angus
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