Tyrrell Hatton will carry on cursing and drinking as he bids to win his first Major at the Open this weekend. The Ryder Cup star had three pints of Guinness before his opening round 68. And on-course TV mics caught him swearing during his second round 69 yesterday which saw him climb even higher up the leaderboard.
The LIV Golf player is as famous for his temper tantrums as his titles – and he unleashed an X-rated rant after a triple bogey at the US PGA. The world No.23, who finished tied fourth at the US Open, has been on better behaviour at his home Major.
But Hatton said: “It felt like a pretty frustrating day – I was still pretty vocal. Maybe I’m just having to do it away from the microphone. It was pretty negative stuff, yeah. Do I want to share it? No, it’ll get me in trouble.
“But I’ve always felt like even though I can be losing my shit, I can get over the next shot and still have a clear mind of what I’m still trying to achieve on that shot. Although from the outside it looks like I’m completely gone, in my own mind I still know where I’m at.
Asked if he will ever change, Hatton laughed: “I’m 33. I think that ship has sailed, to be honest. No, I’m not going to change. It’s just how I am, how I play. I’ve always said, as long as it’s not affecting my playing partners.
“Sure, there’s been times I’ve probably gone too far and you comment on a putt when they’re putting on the same line but as long as I’m not affecting the other guys, then I’m not going to change.”
Hatton finished his round just before a heavy afternoon rainstorm but he was not going to have a dry night.
The Ryder Cup star, who played golf at nearby Ballyreagh on Wednesday night, is also not going to change his ritual of relaxing with a pint of the black stuff. “Would be rude not to have more pints tonight,” he said. “I think three is the magic number. Two or three is the optimal level because you’re not close to a hangover and hopefully I’ve got a late tee time tomorrow so I can have a late lay-in as well.”
Hatton has won the Alfred Links Championships in Scotland three times but his tied fifth at the 2016 Open was his best Major finish before Oakmont last month.
Hatton said he took confidence from being in contention for the first time – on a Sunday – last month. So can he win this time in his 42nd Major?
“Potentially,” he said. “Time will tell if I can get in that position again. So far, so good this week. I am in a decent position so far.”