Tyrell Hatton admits 'the dummy was out' at the US PGA Championship

Tyrell Hatton admits ‘the dummy was out’ and that he was ‘pretty miserable’ at the start of his first round at the US PGA Championship – but soon shines to finish just two shots off the lead

  • Tyrell Hatton has admitted he was in a foul mood when he began his first round 
  • Temperamental Englishman conceded ‘the dummy was out on the driving range’
  • As it happened, Hatton rid himself of all the bad stuff and was close to the lead

Tyrrell Hatton freely admitted that he was in a foul mood when he began his first round at the US PGA Championship on Thursday.

‘The dummy was out on the driving range,’ conceded the temperamental Englishman, who has been known to lose his cool from time to time on the course.

‘I forgot how to swing the club. Yeah, I was pretty miserable. Thank goodness the first few holes I played were all downwind.’

Tyrell Hatton freely admitted he was in a foul mood at the start of the US PGA Championship

As it turned out, the 29-year-old got rid of all his bad stuff during his warm-up, as he finished only two shots off the lead following a one under par round of 71.

‘I honestly thought I was going to have a bad day,’ he said. ‘I was just trying to do my best and I’m very thankful for that score.’

In all, it was a good start from the British contingent, with American-based Scot Martin Laird leading the way from the morning wave with a 70.

Hatton was able to rid himself of the bad stuff in his warm-up and was two shots off the lead

It is not often that players come off the course feeling pleased with their day’s work after they’ve concluded with two bogeys, but Laird was happy enough, despite the dropped shots at the difficult 17th and 18th.

It concluded an extraordinary back nine featuring only one par, with four birdies in a row from the 13th.

‘I turned the heaters on for a while and that doesn’t happen very often on this course,’ he said.

‘The wind picked up and it became clear that any score under par would be good, so I’m delighted.’

A pleased American-based Scot Martin Laird had led the way from the morning wave with a 70

Paul Casey, runner-up to Collin Morikawa in this event last year, also finished with two bogeys but was less content, given they happened on the downwind eighth and ninth.

The 43-year-old still finished with the same score as Hatton, as did fellow Englishman Tom Lewis.

The Welwyn man has always been a superior ball striker, so will relish this difficult test. 

Lee Westwood and Matt Wallace finished further down after both shot 73, while Scot Bob MacIntyre struggled on the severely contoured greens and carded a disappointing 75.

Paul Casey (pictured) also finished with two bogeys but was less content with his performance




Share this article

Source: Read Full Article