Hatton Dismisses LIV Tension with McIlroy as Dubai Focus Turns to Wines, Not Fines
Any lingering speculation about awkwardness between Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton during the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic was swiftly dispelled by the Englishman himself. Despite McIlroy's pre-tournament comments urging Hatton and Jon Rahm to settle their substantial fines with the European Tour Group for joining LIV Golf, the atmosphere on the course was notably cordial.
Friendly Banter Over Fines
Hatton revealed that their conversation steered clear of the contentious issue of penalties, focusing instead on lighter topics. "We didn't really talk about that," Hatton stated. "It was me mainly asking if he had any good wine over Christmas. It was better than the wine I was drinking, but my wine was very nice, too." This exchange highlighted a lack of visible ill-feeling between the Ryder Cup teammates, who were paired together for the first two rounds at the Emirates Club.
McIlroy had used his media appearance before the tournament to assert that Hatton and Rahm should "pay up" their seven-figure fines, a sentiment that could have created tension. However, Hatton downplayed any discord, noting, "I ended up seeing what was said. And as he said, that's his opinion. Everyone is allowed an opinion. I guess something will get sorted, hopefully, soon. I think everyone is pretty keen for that to happen."
Weighty Matters and Rusty Performances
The conversation took a humorous turn when Hatton shared his post-holiday weight with McIlroy. "He was horrified to hear what weight I was on 1 January," Hatton admitted. The answer was 204lbs, which he described as "aggressive" for his 5ft 8in frame. "Just before the Ryder Cup, I was 190lbs. So that's another stone I'd put on. I enjoyed my December, zero cardio and a lot of drinking. I had a Guinness tap in the house, which was enjoyable. So now it is time to lose a little bit of weight."
On the course, Hatton's performance was impressive given his self-professed rustiness. He shot a two under par 70, despite feeling far from his best. "I was turning like the Titanic out there," he quipped. "I can't move, I still feel pretty stiff. This still feels early for me." This round underscored the skill of top golfers in posting competitive scores even when not at their peak.
McIlroy, similarly off-form, carded a 73, matching the score of Tommy Fleetwood, the third member of their high-profile group. Meanwhile, Francesco Molinari shone with a 65, rolling back the years with a stellar performance.
Ryder Cup Captaincy Discussions
Molinari also addressed speculation about the Ryder Cup captaincy, with Luke Donald potentially returning for a third term. Molinari, seen as a backup candidate, expressed strong support for Donald. "I think we were all wishing for him to come back one more time, all the players and basically all the team that's been working with him for the last four years," he said. "Obviously I'd never say no. I'd never turn it down if I'm asked. I'd love to do it, but if it doesn't happen, there's no issue with me with that. Everyone who was there would love him to do it one more time."
Unfortunately, Donald was unable to participate in the tournament, withdrawing due to illness before reaching the 1st tee. This absence did little to dampen the focus on camaraderie and competition in Dubai, where the talk remained firmly on wines, not fines.
