Tyrrell Hatton shared that he surpassed a surprised Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Desert Classic after indulging in festive eating and drinking. The LIV Golf star humorously mentioned feeling as slow as the Titanic during his initial round of 70 while defending his title in a wet January.
The Masters champion had jokingly asked his Ryder Cup teammate to cover the fines for participating in the Saudi-supported tour to maintain eligibility for Europe during a pre-tournament interview. However, Hatton disclosed that their conversation during their round was centered on the quality of wine they had enjoyed over the holiday season.
Amusingly, Hatton recounted McIlroy’s shock upon learning his weight on January 1st, which was 204 pounds, a significant increase from before. Reflecting on his December activities, Hatton acknowledged minimal cardio and significant drinking, including having a Guinness tap at home.
Setting his sights on shedding some weight, Hatton humorously referred to his current fitness regime as “damp January” following a rather indulgent December. Despite his lack of conditioning, Hatton managed to card four birdies and two bogeys in his first competitive round of 2026, trailing five shots behind clubhouse leader Francesco Molinari.
Hatton admitted feeling rusty on the course and expressed determination to perform to the best of his abilities. Notably, McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, who played alongside Hatton, did not engage in discussions about fines related to conflicting LIV Golf engagements.
Poland’s Adrian Meronk, facing a similar predicament regarding fines, voiced dissatisfaction with the imposed penalties for playing in other tournaments. Meronk advocated for a resolution between the tours to address the players’ concerns.
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