ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

October 6, 2024

Tyrrell Hatton

Quick Quotes

MATTHEW JOULE: Congratulations, Tyrrell. You've become the first player in the history of this tournament to win it three times. How does that feel to become the first three-time winner?

TYRRELL HATTON: Pretty surreal to be honest. At the start of the week, the goal was to try to win the tournament. So to be sitting here next to the trophy again, feels great, and relieved to get over the line. The last seven holes was pretty stressful.

MATTHEW JOULE: Pretty dramatic finish. You obviously dropped three shots in two holes in the middle of that back nine. What were you telling yourself to get back on track?

TYRRELL HATTON: I probably shouldn't repeat what I said to myself. I'm sure you heard some of it on the mics, anyway.

But yeah, I mean, positive self-talk is not one that I'm known to do. So it was just, I didn't want to kind of keep the momentum going the wrong way.

So to hit a nice tee shot down 15 and a good 7-iron in there, I felt like that settled me down a little bit. As I said, I didn't really want things to get away from me, and I didn't appreciate where I actually was in the tournament, either.

So it was only when I got to the 17th Green, I saw the leaderboards for the first time since halfway, and I really knew where I stand.

MATTHEW JOULE: And how special have the past four days been playing alongside your dad?

TYRRELL HATTON: It's been awesome. We are pretty fortunate. This is the third time we've been able to play this tournament together, and I think finally this year, my dad sort of settled down and he actually played some good golf. He played unreal yesterday, which was nice to see.

I know that it made it more special if we were able to win the team event, as well, but ultimately these are memories that neither of us will ever forget, and for me to win today the individual event, that's the first time that I've won with my dad at a tournament. That makes it more special, and it was pretty cool that he had a front row seat for it.

Q. You spoke at the British Masters about how nice it was to be back on the DP World Tour. How pleasing is it to come back and win a trophy again?

TYRRELL HATTON: Yeah, it feels amazing. My last win was Abu Dhabi '21 on the DP World Tour. So that was a long time ago. And I knew when I came back to play the British Masters and the Spanish Open last week, that I really wanted to earn enough points to be able to play in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from a World Ranking points perspective, a Ryder Cup points perspective.

I've been fortunate to play the DP World Tour Championship every year that I've had my tour card. Winning today secures my spot there. I'm really excited that I can compete in those two events at the back end of the year.

Q. Nico showed he can still play some good golf, but maybe next year, he might be involved in the Ryder Cup backroom team again. Could you just talk a little bit about how he played and what he brings in the team room?

TYRRELL HATTON: Yeah, he's a great guy, fantastic competitor. He played some good golf today, especially on the back nine when it was really tough conditions. I know he's a huge help in the team room at the Ryder Cup, and yeah, he's always a fun person to be around.

Q. After your achievements here, how many times you've won on the Old Course, some might say with justification that you have become one of the great Old Course players. How do you feel about that yourself? It's a pretty special achievement.

TYRRELL HATTON: Yeah, I mean, I've been able to shoot some decent scores here at the Old Course, and it's a course that I feel pretty comfortable on, and especially on the greens. Generally I put pretty well when I play here.

If I have a good putting week, generally I should give myself a chance. And yeah, thankful this was my week.

Q. I know you gave us an explanation of why you played so well, but since then, is there any other things about why you're so good here?

TYRRELL HATTON: As I say, I think how the course is set up, it just allows you to be more aggressive. Certainly when we played here and the rough is a little bit thicker, you have to be a little bit more conservative, and also, the wind direction plays a huge part on that, too.

The front nine, playing it mainly down off the left, you can carry some of the bunkers that will cause you problems than, say, if it's into off the left, and that shows when we turn around and we play 12 and 13, can't carry the bunkers in the middle even 255 today when any other week you're not even worried about 255.

But yeah, the wind direction just sort of plays a huge part in how you try and navigate your way around these golf courses.

Q. Were you surprised at how well Colsaerts got on there, because he hasn't been playing a lot, and you've been playing more than he has, and you were feeling pressure, weren't you, going up 18?

TYRRELL HATTON: First part of the question, I'm not surprised Nico played how he did today. I'm sure he feels he's left some shots out there. He's a fantastic player in his own right, and I know that maybe he's not played how he wanted to over the last few years. But he's won tournaments and he knows how to get over the line, and from my side, yeah, I saw as soon as I got on to the 17th green, I saw that leaderboard. That's kind of where, really, the nerves kind of kicked in for me. As I played the back nine up to that point, not really knowing truly where I was at, so in some ways, it's a nice place to be because you don't feel the pressure.

To stand up and hit a really good tee shot on 18, and then that chip shot was -- apart from holing it, I don't even want it back. That being said, it was quite nerve-wracking standing over a 3-foot putt just praying that you hole it.

Q. Do you sense there's a vibe among the players this week, a willingness to start moving forward?

TYRRELL HATTON: I mean, there's guys that were obviously playing this week that are having those conversations to figure out how we come back together as a sport.

From my side, I've enjoyed playing where I've played this year, and I've enjoyed coming back and playing some DP World Tour events, as well, and events that mean a lot to me.

So from my side, I know what events I want to play, and hopefully I can continue to keep playing them. I certainly don't have the power to make decisions that need to be made, and from a player's perspective, I just want to play golf.

Q. Is this the highlight of your season, winning this event?

TYRRELL HATTON: It means a lot. I think any time that you win a tournament, it's very special. You know, winning here at the Home of Golf with my dad, that probably will take it over the edge for this year.

There's not really many better places in the world to win a tournament. So yeah, it means a lot.

Q. Just wondering, what's left for you golf-wise the rest of the season?

TYRRELL HATTON: So I will play Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Winning here this week allows me to take some time off, this was my fourth week in a row, and as I was saying, I really wanted to get into Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and at the start of last week, I was 94 in rankings and knew I needed a really good well-coached. I was prepared to play in Sotogrande, and maybe even South Korea if I needed to to try and make it to Abu Dhabi.

It's a Ryder Cup year. I want to earn as many points as I possibly can, and you know, I'm committed to try my best to earn the points that I need to be on that team. If it means playing events that you wouldn't normally play, and not to make that sound as a negative. It's more of if I need to play, I'm going to play.

So I'm happy that I have been able to win this week and I can have four weeks off, and then I'll be fresh, hopefully ready to play some good golf in Abu Dhabi.

Q. What is it about October? I know it's your birthday next week, but looking at the stats here, you've had six DP World Tour victories and four of those have been in October, and all around your birthday. What is it?

TYRRELL HATTON: I don't know. I have no idea. Maybe some majors could move to October.

Q. That would be good for you, wouldn't it.

TYRRELL HATTON: (Smiling).

MATTHEW JOULE: Many congratulations, enjoy the celebrations.