Tyrrell Hatton recently shared that he had a better score than a surprised Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Desert Classic following a festive period of indulging in wine and Guinness. The golf star humorously mentioned feeling as cumbersome as the Titanic during his initial round defending his title amidst wet weather in January.
During their time together on the course, Hatton and McIlroy focused more on reminiscing about the quality wine they enjoyed over the holidays rather than the Ryder Cup team-mate’s potential fines for participating in the Saudi-backed tour.
Hatton jested about shocking McIlroy with his weight gain, revealing he was 204 pounds on January 1st compared to his pre-Ryder Cup weight of 190 pounds. Acknowledging his December festivities filled with limited cardio and ample drinking, Hatton now aims to shed some weight by engaging in a “damp January” after a previous “dry January.”
Known for his love of a drink, Hatton previously consumed multiple Guinness pints nightly during his Open challenge last year. Despite his lack of conditioning for the upcoming LIV Golf tour, Hatton managed to make a respectable performance in his first competition of the year.
Reflecting on his game, Hatton admitted feeling rusty and stiff on the course but is determined to give his best effort. Meanwhile, McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, who also played alongside Hatton, avoided discussing the fines associated with conflicting LIV Golf results.
As the debate over fines continues, Poland’s Adrian Meronk echoed discontent about the penalties imposed on players opting to play elsewhere. Meronk emphasized the need for a fair resolution between the tours to address the ongoing dissatisfaction among the players.
