DP World Tour : Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Tyrrell Hatton has made history as the first ever three-time winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The Englishman started his love affair with the event when he claimed his first title in 2016 before successfully defending his crown 12 months later.
Two more runner-up finishes followed in 2018 and 2021 and he had to battle the elements on the Old Course on Sunday to ensure his place in history.
He had equaled the course record on Saturday to earn a one-shot lead, which inflated to three after four birdies through his first 11 holes.
Hatton endured a wobble during the closing stages which saw Nicolas Colsaerts move alongside him at the summit with three holes remaining, but he birdied the last to seal the one-shot triumph at -24
"It feels good. It's actually the first tournament I have won with my dad here, it means a lot and to do it at the home of golf is really special," Hatton said. "I'm trying not to cry to be honest, I'm a bit lost for words.
"I didn't actually know what the scores were from when we left at the halfway house. The first leaderboard I saw was on the 17th green.
"When I double bogeyed 13 and bogeyed 14, I didn't realise I was still in and around the lead and just tried my best on every shot coming in, and then I see where I'm at at the 17th green, then I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.
"To have a three and a half foot putt is quite nerve-wracking and I was so relieved when it went in.
"I'm so happy I've got my place booked in Dubai. When I teed it up last week at the Spanish Open I knew I needed a second on my own to have a chance."
The chasing pack were making their move behind as Spain's David Puig reach the turn in 29 after a run of six straight birdies from the second before wrapping up the front nine with another to sit two shots adrift of the leading pair.
Tom Vaillant was also at -22 with three birdies on his opening nine holes, while behind him Colsaerts blinked first when a wayward tee shot at the par-three eighth resulted in a bogey
Finale
Colsaerts continued to apply the pressure with a fine approach at the 15th and when he holed his 11-foot putt, he was joint leader at -23
They could not be separated heading down the last, where they almost hit identical tee shots. Hatton chipped his effort to three feet, while Colsaerts putted from off the green to eight feet.
The Belgian could not drain his birdie effort, but Hatton held his nerve to seal victory on the 72nd hole. With the win he moves to 20th (owgr) and 16th in the Race to Dubai.
Tommy Fleetwood carded a closing 67 to finish in third at 21 under, while Puig, South Africa's Robin Williams and Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen were two shots further back in a tie for fourth.
Vaillant, Spaniard Jon Rahm and China's Li Haotong were one adrift at -18.
In the team event, Thorbjørn Olesen and Dermot Desmond secured victory by two shots after carding a remarkable 48 under par
What a great week for all to gather in 2024 at St Andrews for this celebration of golf.
europeantour. com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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