Professional golfer Tyrrell Hatton shared that he surpassed Rory McIlroy in scoring at the Dubai Desert Classic after indulging in wine and Guinness over the Christmas period. Hatton humorously mentioned feeling as rigid as the Titanic during his opening round defense of his title in January.
During a round of golf with McIlroy, Hatton disclosed that their conversation revolved around the quality of wine they enjoyed during the holidays rather than golf-related matters. Hatton jokingly recounted McIlroy’s shock upon learning that he had gained weight over the festive season.
Hatton humorously admitted to packing on an additional stone in weight, reaching 204 pounds by January 1st, which he found to be quite aggressive for his height. He attributed the weight gain to minimal cardio and excessive drinking during December, including indulging in Guinness from a tap at home.
Acknowledging the need to shed some weight, Hatton humorously dubbed his current fitness regime as “damp January,” contrasting with his previous attempt at “dry January.” Despite feeling rusty on the course, Hatton managed a decent performance, carding four birdies and two bogeys in challenging conditions.
Fellow golfers McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, who played alongside Hatton, refrained from discussing fines imposed by the DP World Tour for conflicting LIV Golf participation. The issue of fines for playing on other tours was also raised by Poland’s Adrian Meronk, who called for a fair resolution between the different golf tours.
Overall, Hatton’s jovial demeanor and candid revelations about his holiday indulgences added a light-hearted touch to the competitive golf tournament.