Tyrrell Hatton shared that he outperformed a surprised Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Desert Classic after gaining weight from consuming wine and Guinness over the Christmas holidays. The golf star humorously described feeling as unwieldy as the Titanic during his initial round defending his title in a wet January.
During a press conference before the tournament, the Masters champion advised his Ryder Cup colleague to cover the fines for participating in the Saudi-supported tour to remain eligible for Europe. However, Hatton disclosed that their on-course conversation primarily revolved around the quality of wine they indulged in during the festive season.
Laughing, Hatton mentioned that McIlroy was shocked to learn about his weight on January 1st, being at 204 pounds, which he found excessive for his height of 5’8”. He noted the weight gain compared to his weight just before the Ryder Cup, highlighting a significant increase. Admitting to enjoying December with minimal training and indulging in drinking, particularly enjoying having a Guinness tap at home, Hatton acknowledged the need to shed some pounds by focusing on exercise and cutting back on alcohol.
Known for his fondness for a drink, Hatton previously consumed two to three Guinnesses daily during the Open challenge at Royal Portrush, where he ended up in a messy state after qualifying for the Ryder Cup. Despite his lack of conditioning due to the delayed start of the LIV Golf tour, Hatton managed to score four birdies and two bogeys in his first competitive round of the year, trailing Ryder Cup vice-captain Francesco Molinari by five shots.
Reflecting on his performance, Hatton humorously likened his flexibility to the Titanic, mentioning his stiffness and feeling rusty on the course. He observed that his swing felt shorter than desired and expressed determination to play to the best of his ability despite the challenges.
Elsewhere, McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, part of Hatton’s group, avoided discussing the fines imposed by the DP World Tour for conflicting LIV Golf commitments, focusing instead on their golf game. Poland’s Adrian Meronk joined Hatton and Jon Rahm in questioning the fairness of the fines associated with playing in other tournaments, calling for a resolution between the tours to address the issue.