Alfred Dunhill champion Hatton heads for US Open

ST ANDREWS, June 12, 2017 – Alfred Dunhill Links champion Tyrrell Hatton goes into this week’s US Open, buoyed by his win at St Andrews last October, and a highly successful first five months of the year.

Tyrrell, currently ranked 17th in the world, said of his 2016 St Andrews victory: “Getting the first win is always really important. It proves when you play to your best you can win.

“I think it’s only human where you think to yourself ‘am I ever going to win’. Now I go into tournaments thinking if I play well and keep myself relaxed I am going to have a very good chance.”

His score of 23-under-par tied the lowest total in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by David Howell and Peter Uihlein in 2013, and included an Old Course record-equalling 62 in the third round. Now he is looking forward to returning to St Andrews to defend his title.

“To equal the course record at St Andrews is pretty cool. I was very surprised when I got into the scorers’ hut and they told me. I’d never shot ten under in any round before,” he said.

Tyrrell has not played Erin Hills in Wisconsin, where the US Open is being played. ‘To be honest, I have no idea about the course. It will be good to see it and get my own ideas about it. I’m looking forward to seeing the challenges that the US Open provides.”

He has also never played Birkdale, host course for the Open Championship next month. “I’ve never played there, but I’ve heard good things about it so I’m looking forward to the tournament.”

Already this year, Tyrrell has finished third in the Dubai Desert Classic and fourth in both the Honda Classic and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, earning a temporary card on the US PGA Tour.

At just 25, many are convinced that he is destined for a great future, but he admits that such rapid success has surprised him.
“After the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March I was up to 14th in the world rankings. I’ve been watching golf ever since I was a little kid. And watching a lot of the guys at the top, and now to see my name among those in the world ranking list is quite surreal for me.”