England’s Tyrrell Hatton got a picture-perfect day for golf to cruise almost effortlessly to his maiden European Tour title in record-equalling style at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Only a bogey at the 17th – when he had five shots in hand anyway – stopped the 24-year-old from High Wycombe from smashing David Howell’s record aggregate but he settled for the 23-under total of 265 and the career-changing £612,548 winner’s cheque.
Hatton’s final round 66 meant, added to Saturday’s Old Course record-equalling 62, he was 16-under for the great old track over the weekend, as good as anyone has managed in this event and one of the greatest ever.
“It’s a great thrill to get my first win but especially here and in such a great tournament,” he said. “Everything’s been perfect for me this week, we’ve been staying in a little cottage and I’ve felt so relaxed.
“The money is a huge thing but the bottom line for all of us out here is to try to win tournaments, and it’s my aim to kick on from this and win a few more.”
Even on the Old Course, where no lead is supposed to be safe until the Road Hole 17th is negotiated, Hatton’s path to victory was pretty much a procession.
South Africa’s Richard Sterne came through with a 66 to claim a share of second with Ross Fisher, but a distant four shots in arrears of the winner. Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren was fourth with Scotland’s Marc Warren alone in fifth.
Any nerves Hatton might have felt were dispelled with no wind to grapple with over St Andrews and three successive birdies from the third that had him six shots clear at one point.
“I was definitely nervous this morning, I’d had some experience of being in the final group before but never leading in the final round, so it was pretty new to me,” he admitted. “But once I got settled in it was fine.”
Hatton had a chance behind Alex Noren at the Scottish Open in Castle Stuart in July before finishing second, but was satisfied he’d done all he could that week.
“Alex is a quality player who had experience of winning, which I didn’t,” he said. “I was actually really pleased then because that finish got me into the Open and into the PGA at Baltusrol, and sort of kick-started my season again.
“I was 53rd in the world rankings before this week and my manager sends me a text every Monday with where I am when they’re updated. I’m really looking forward to that text tomorrow.”
The young Englishman has also had a reputation for being a touch fiery on the course, but it’s something he credits his caddie Chris Rice for helping him control.
“No-one’s perfect, and it’s still something I’m working on,” he admitted. “But Ricey is so good at working with me, keeping me calm and while we have a laugh out there he’s so professional when we get over the ball.
“He’s been fantastic for me and he deserves a lot of credit for this.”
Hatton and his partner in the pro-am event, actor Jamie Dornan, finished in a share of fourth place but the win went to Masters champion Danny Willett and his caddie Jonathan Smart, with a total of -38, despite Willett failing to make the cut on his own ball in the tournament proper.
