He won the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and took home $800k. And now he’s the only LIV Golf Pro in the top six of the European Ryder Cup points list. You can’t say it’s not impressive. Especially since he was able to dish out scores of 65-68-61-70 over the three iconic courses to clinch the title of champion. But it’s not as if the golfer hasn’t had his share of embarrassing moments. And to do that, we have to put on our time-traveling hats and go back to 2019.

It was the third round of the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Englishman had just teed off at the par-4, 9th hole at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge and was readying himself to hit the approach shot. How did it fare? Well, unfortunately for Hatton, the ball was around 30 yards off his target and fell short of the green toward its right. Maybe the only consolation he could give himself was the fact that it fell in between two bunkers instead of in it.

Nobody would have been happy with such a shot. Unsurprisingly enough, neither was the then-27-year-old pro. “Have you seen a worse golf shot?” asked the athlete to his then-caddie, Mark Crane. What do you think his response was? “…” That’s right! He kept mum. But Tyrrell Hatton wasn’t one to leave it be, for he sternly yet jokingly urged the looper, “No, answer the question.”

Crane finally gave in and responded. A firm “no” was his reply, which was the exact one the English golfer was looking for. The professional also agreed with the caddie’s short but truthful analysis as he responded, “That was terrible.” Now… do guess as to the figure he carded in that hole. You would be surprised to know that Hatton dished out a par score at the 9th. Even so, it wasn’t enough for the event’s title.

That day, although the now-32-year-old was able to dish out a score of 6-under 66, it wasn’t nearly enough to help him bridge the gap going into Sunday. For he had only put up figures of 70-75-66-74 over the four days of play while finishing at a disappointing T29. It seems like the day he hit the ‘worst’ shot turned out to be the round with his best score in the tournament. How ironic is that?! Anyhow, the golfer has come a long way since then!

Tyrrell Hatton’s place on the European Ryder Cup standings

As per the new regulations, golfers (LIV or otherwise) can become a part of the Ryder Cup team based on a streamlined qualification system. How does it work? Well, the qualification period kicked off from the British Masters at The Belfry, in which Hatton finished T18, following which he raked in a T1o at the Acciona Open de Espana and a victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Tyrrell Hatton is now placed in the fifth position with a total tally of 295.84 points, owing to his finishes. If he manages to keep the spot, then the golfer can automatically qualify for the 2025 edition of the tournament under Luke Donald, thereby reviving the LIV Golf Ryder Cup dream. But can he do it? His fans would surely have their fingers crossed!