Tyrrell Hatton shared that he outperformed a surprised Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Desert Classic after gaining weight from indulging in wine and Guinness over the Christmas period. The LIV Golf athlete joked about feeling as sluggish as the Titanic during his initial round at the tournament in January.
During their game together, Hatton and McIlroy focused more on reminiscing about the quality wine they enjoyed over the holidays rather than discussing golf matters. The world’s 21st-ranked player humorously mentioned McIlroy’s shock upon learning about Hatton’s weight gain at the start of the year.
Hatton confessed to packing on an extra stone, weighing in at 204 pounds on January 1st, a significant increase from his weight before the Ryder Cup. He attributed the weight gain to festive celebrations involving minimal exercise and plenty of drinking, highlighting his enjoyment of having a Guinness tap readily available at home.
Acknowledging the need to shed some pounds, Hatton humorously referred to his current fitness regimen as “damp January” following his indulgent December. Despite feeling rusty and stiff on the golf course, Hatton managed to score four birdies and two bogeys in his first competitive round of the year, trailing five shots behind clubhouse leader Francesco Molinari.
Hatton’s drinking habits have been well-documented, with anecdotes of him consuming multiple pints of Guinness during tournaments. His lack of conditioning due to the upcoming LIV Golf tour did not hinder him from delivering a decent performance amidst challenging weather conditions.
In a separate group, McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood posted similar scores, opting not to discuss the fines associated with conflicting LIV Golf commitments. McIlroy emphasized the importance of focusing on playing good golf rather than engaging in contentious discussions.
Polish golfer Adrian Meronk echoed similar sentiments regarding the fines imposed on players participating in alternate tours. Meronk expressed dissatisfaction with the fines and called for a fair resolution between the various golf tours to address the issue amicably.