Tyrrell Hatton has ripped Oak Hill, signalling the PGA Championship is officially underway.
Hatton, that beautifully crass man, has made a habit of airing his thoughts and opinions on the set-ups he faces. For those that need a crash course in Hatton’s exploits, the Englishman has, in the past:
- Turned his golf club into a riffle and mockingly shot at the azealas at Augusta National. After shooting 80, Hatton said of the venerable course: “You can hit good shots here and not get any reward for it. It’s unfair at times. I don’t agree with that. If you hit a good shot, you should end up near the hole. Not then short-sided into a bunker because of the slopes they’ve created and stuff. I don’t think it’s a fair test at times, and when you hit good shots and you’re not rewarded for it, it shows.”
- Ripped last year’s PGA venue, Southern Hills, regarding their slow pace. “I wouldn’t say it’s an advantage,” Hatton said after shooting a (checks notes) 68. “I mean, we’re playing a major championship, not a monthly medal. You know, they’re bubbling all over the place. It’s so hard to hole putts. So you can hit a great putt and they just don’t look like going in, which is hard to accept when we’re playing in a major championship.”
- Weeks later, at the RBC Canadian Open, Hatton was heard yelling, “That golf shot was about as good as this hole. Ab-so-lute-ly awful.”
- Was caught flipping off a bunker last week at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
So, all the props to ESPN for putting Hatton on its featured groups Friday at Oak Hill, betting that the focus on the Ryder Cupper would produce content gold. They bet correctly:
By the way, Hatton was three under on his round and saved par. Give the man this: He is democratic in his indignation.
