Tyrrell Hatton's complaints about the speed of the greens at this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship were quickly dismissed by the Sky Sports commentary team.
After spending most of 2024 on the LIV Golf Tour, Hatton recently returned to the DP World Tour with the goal of competing in four events that would allow him to retain his membership and qualify for next year's Ryder Cup qualifications. His trip to Scotland this week means he needs to play a crucial fourth game to complete his tally.
The Briton got off to a strong start on Thursday, shooting an impressive 7-under 65 to put him in a strong position in his pursuit of the three-time champion.
Hatton started his campaign at Carnoustie and round two took him to Kingsbarns where he once again produced a superb performance. His Friday wasn't without controversy, however, as the LIV star was overheard complaining about the speed of the putting surface.
After missing a birdie putt and par on the tenth hole, Hatton exclaimed: “Oh, they're so slow. Why? Cut them…”
However, Sky Sports' Nick Doherty seemed unimpressed in the commentary box, retorting during the live broadcast: “No… you know why they don't cut them.”
“Three rounds of golf, the same pins, if they cut the pins quickly and the wind gets 20, 30 mph one day, then they can't putt. He knows, it's just a little bit of frustration of boiling.”
His co-commentator Dame Laura Davies weighed in on the matter: “It puts him in his position.”
Despite his annoyance, Hatton prevailed at the Scotland Course, shooting a 4-under 68 to move him to 11 under for the championship.
As the competition intensifies at St. Andrews, Hatton finds himself just four strokes behind club leaders Cameron John and Nicholas Kolsatz heading into Saturday's third round. The event was notable for featuring 14 LIV golfers among the DP World Tour field, hinting at a potential reconciliation of the sport in its historical birthplace.
The Pro-Am also highlights the ongoing dialogue between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, with key figures Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan both taking part.
Not only were the two central figures in the peace talks in attendance, Tour Commissioner Monaghan and LIV President Rumayan were also notably paired together in the first round, along with their professional partner Billy Howe. Scheer and Dean Burmeister.
