Tempestuous Tyrrell, the Dubai winner. Beware the angry golfer.
Say what you like about Tyrrell Hatton’s frequent tantrums – and plenty do – but the Englishman’s ability can never be called into question.
Hatton will surge back into the top 10 of the world on account of his Dubai Desert Classic victory, with a Ryder Cup return at Bethpage this year already looking a formality.
Many have disappeared from view after switching to LIV Golf. Hatton, by contrast, can still mix it with the best. This marks his second DP World Tour success since joining the rebel circuit in early 2024. Even the emergence of Rory McIlroy from the Sunday shadows was insufficient to knock Hatton off stride at the Emirates Club.
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“To add my name to the list of the amazing champions that have been before me, to have my name on that trophy now, is a dream come true,” Hatton said.
He used to feign illness to skip school and watch this championship. Half a dozen major top 10s suggest Hatton has capacity to take his game to a further level.
There will be a minor deduction from Hatton’s $1.5m Dubai prize but he is unlikely to care. The 33-year-old damaged a tee box in anger during round three, meaning a tongue lashing and upcoming fine from tour officialdom.
If ranting, raving and snapping continues to precede wins then this leopard is hardly going to change his spots. Hatton’s 69 for a 15 under par aggregate took the trophy by one from Daniel Hillier. Hatton converted from 6ft on the 72nd green to seal the title.
“He doesn’t give a flying fig what anyone else thinks which is a really good attribute in this game,” McIlroy said of Hatton. “He has got balls.”
McIlroy believes Hatton will be “amazing” and a “massive asset” as Europe look to retain the Ryder Cup.
Day four here for Hatton was all about coping with expectation. He was the clear favourite to prevail before a ball was struck. A dropped shot at the opening hole suggested nerves but Hatton rebounded immediately.
A front nine of 33 rendered him the man to catch. McIlroy’s day was a slow burner; he played the front nine in minus two before birdies in three of the back half’s first quartet of holes. McIlroy picked up shots again at the 16th and 18th but by now Hatton had left the defending champion too much to do. McIlroy shared fourth with Niklas Nørgaard.
Hatton stood on the 18th tee with a two-stroke lead. A wonderful approach to tap in range at the 16th had seemed to settle the outcome. Yet Hillier, who started the tournament outside the world’s top 200, produced a final birdie four to give Hatton something to think about. Hatton completed a two-putt from 50ft.
“I was pretty nervous on the back nine to be honest,” Hatton said. “I guess I maybe wanted it a bit too much. I knew the position I was in and I was a little bit scruffy down the last. To see that putt go in felt amazing, I am just so happy to win. My hands had been shaking. This is one of the events you want on your CV, it is so iconic on this tour.”
McIlroy believes his “game management” requires some work before he returns to action in the United States. A Sunday 66 was his lowest round of the week. Laurie Canter chipped in at the 17th then picked up another shot at the last to start his year positively, two adrift of the winner. LIV-bound Tom McKibbin earned a top-10 berth at minus 11.
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