‘If I Need To Play I’m Going To Play’ – Tyrrell Hatton Targets Automatic Ryder Cup Qualification After Dunhill Links Win
The LIV golfer won the DP World Tour event for a record third time, giving his chances of qualifying automatically for the 2025 Ryder Cup a boost in the process
Tyrrell Hatton claimed a record third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title, beating Nicolas Colaerts by one shot at the Old Course, St Andrews.
As well as a prize-money payout of €739,482 (around $812,000), there were other advantages for Hatton, including the guarantee of a top-70 finish in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai standings, booking him spots in the two season-closing events, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Meanwhile, Hatton's appearance in Scotland this week was his fourth on the DP World Tour this season, meeting the minimum requirement to remain eligible for next year's Ryder Cup.
Luke Donald's 12-man team will feature six automatic qualifiers and six wildcards for the Bethpage Black match. The win also moves Hatton from 33rd on the European Ryder Cup points list to fifth, and he admitted earning as many points as possible is his target despite limited opportunities due to his LIV Golf commitments.
“It's a Ryder Cup year," he said. "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.”
Despite now earning the luxury of some time away to prepare for November's events in the United Arab Emirates, Hatton detailed the lengths he would have been prepared to go to to qualify for them had he still needed to.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
“Winning here this week allows me to take some time off," he said. "This was my fourth week in a row. I really wanted to get into Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and at the start of last week, I was 94 in rankings. I was prepared to play in Sotogrande, and maybe even South Korea if I needed to, to try and make it to Abu Dhabi."
Another reason Hatton is relieved to have a clear diary for the next few weeks is so that he can attend fellow 2023 Ryder Cup star Matt Fitzpatrick’s wedding to Katherine Gaal, with the couple due to tie the knot at the same time as Spain's Andalucia Masters at Sotogrande in less than two weeks.
He added: “I was meant to be going to Fitzy's wedding the week in Spain, and I messaged him a few weeks ago and I was like, if I don't have enough points, I might not be able to go and I felt so bad about that. I guess having a little extra motivation to play well.”
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Do Non-Contracted Players Have To Pay For Golf Balls?
What happens when a professional golfer needs more ammo? Do they have to dip into their own wallet?
By Michael Weston Published
-
Anthony Kim Among 18 LIV Golfers Confirmed For International Series Event
Kim will make a rare start away from LIV Golf at one of the Asian Tour's last events later this year
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Anthony Kim Among 18 LIV Golfers Confirmed For International Series Event
Kim will make a rare start away from LIV Golf at one of the Asian Tour's last events later this year
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Jon Rahm To Miss DP World Tour Championship
The Spaniard is missing this week's DP World Tour Championship, which he has won on three occasions
By Elliott Heath Published
-
What Rory McIlroy Needs To Win Sixth Race To Dubai Title
The Northern Irishman holds a handsome lead at the top of the standings but still requires a high finish to deny Thriston Lawrence a chance of overtaking him
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
The Key Stories At The Halfway Stage Of DP World Tour Q School
The DP World Tour Q School is at the halfway stage and, 54 holes in, a number of stories are already developing!
By Matt Cradock Published
-
'That's One Of The Best Feelings Of My Life' - Paul Waring Sends Classy Message Following Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Win
Following his victory in Abu Dhabi, Waring sent close friend, Andy Sullivan, a classy message, as Waring all but wrapped up his PGA Tour card for 2025
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Paul Waring Stares Down Major Champions And Ryder Cup Stars To Win Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
The 39-year-old Englishman claimed his second DP World Tour title by two strokes in Abu Dhabi, carding 24-under to beat Tyrrell Hatton and likely secure a 2025 PGA Tour card
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Despite Changing 12 Of His Golf Clubs, Shane Lowry Moves Into Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Contention
Shane Lowry fired a six-under 66 to move into contention at Yas Links, with the Major winner revealing he had changed 12 of his clubs pre-tournament
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Tee Times: Round Four
Paul Waring takes a one-shot lead into the final round at Yas Links, where the line-up for the season-closing DP World Tour Championship will be confirmed
By Mike Hall Published