The Tyrrell Hatton Experience: Why One of Golf's Most Polarizing Figures Has Won Me Over

I used to hate watching Hatton play golf.

The club slams after wayward drives. The audible "Oh, for f---'s sake!" echoing across fairways. The theatrical head-in-hands routine after missed putts. Growing up watching golf, I'd developed reverence for the sport's traditional composure — Tiger's fist pumps were fine, but Hatton's volcanic eruptions felt excessive.

Then something changed.

I watched him grind through the 2023 Ryder Cup, going 3-0-1 and helping Europe reclaim the trophy. Even as a devoted Team USA fan, I respected his performance. Then came his reaction at this year's U.S. Open when J.J. Spaun rolled in that putt on No. 18 — Hatton's face lit up with pure joy for a competitor who'd just beaten him. He'd missed his own major moment, yet couldn't contain his excitement for someone else's.

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That reaction crystallized everything. Hatton's emotions aren't performance art — they're unfiltered responses from someone who cares so deeply about golf he can't hide what he's feeling. In a sport sanitized by media training and corporate speak, his authenticity feels radical.

Consider what we're watching when Hatton melts down. He ranks second in greens in regulation on the DP World Tour (80.56 percent), putts better than almost anyone when he's on (1.64 putts per GIR), and has won eight times, including five Rolex Series events. He's not throwing tantrums because he's bad — he's furious because he knows exactly how good he should be.

The club slam after a poor shot isn't petulance; it's the reaction of impossibly high standards. The visible relief after holing a crucial putt isn't manufactured drama; it's genuine recognition of how brutally difficult this game is, even for world-class players.

What frustrates me is that we don't get enough Hatton. His LIV Golf move in 2024 made financial sense — reportedly $60 million — but cost us weekly doses of his passion. He shows up for majors and select DP World Tour events. His recent Hero Dubai Desert Classic victory and this week's Open contention prove he's still elite. Golf would be more compelling with Hatton's unfiltered intensity every week.

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Golf needs its Tyrrell Hattons as much as its Justin Roses. The sport is big enough for both stoic perfectionists and emotional volcanoes. Hatton's authenticity doesn't just make him interesting — it makes golf human.

Walking to the first tee Sunday at Royal Portrush, he'll be six shots back with an outside chance at his first major. With Scottie firmly out in front, that will be a tall task. Regardless, I'll be watching every shot, every reaction, every moment of unguarded emotion. Win or lose, he'll give us something genuine in a sport that too often feels rehearsed.

That's the Tyrrell Hatton experience. Golf is better for it.