LIV Golf star Tyrrell Hatton appeared to have written a two-word message to himself on his golf glove for his final round of the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday.
The 33-year-old, who has previously vented his fury on the golf course, had been branded a ‘terrible influence on the next generation’ by Sky Sports’ Ewen Murray after he was pictured snapping a club in two while on the course.
It came at the 14th hole of the Earth Course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates Golf & Country Club in Dubai, with Hatton missing an approach to the green, long and to the left.
The Englishman began walking away from where he had played the shot and infuriated by the miss, he pressed the head of his wedge into the ground, snapping the shaft into two.
Hatton, who was also heard cursing loudly following the incident, had shown his unhappiness with his game throughout the week.
But his snapped club was the final straw for Sky Sports commentator Murray, who rebuked the golfer live on air.
LIV Golf star Tyrrell Hatton appeared to have written a two-word message to himself on his golf glove for his final round of the DP World Tour Championship
On Saturday, Hatton was slammed by Sky Sports commentator Ewen Murray for snapping a club
‘Oh no, no. It’s time for change I’m afraid,’ Murray said.
‘What a terrible influence on the next generation. I’m sorry to say it, I’m his biggest supporter as a golfer. But just have a look at this. Why? Why would you do that? We’ve all had our moments but he’s having too many of them.’
Earlier in the day, Hatton had missed a tap-in putt on the fourth hole, before sending another putt wide on the 11th. That prompted a fiery ourtburst in which Hatton was heard saying: ‘F*** you, f****** s*** greens’.
Despite battling with his game, Hatton has still managed to stay in contention and finished his week ten under and tied fifth, four shots back from leader Rory McIlroy.
On Sunday morning, it appears Hatton may have taken heed of Murray’s advice and has taken some steps to calm himself down.
He had appeared to write a two-word message on his golf glove to himself, which read: ‘Be nice’ with a smiley face.
After yesterday’s round, the DP World Tour stated that they would be handing Hatton a fine for the incident.
Hatton had previously stated that he ‘was not feeling very comfortable’ in his swing and added that ‘every shot felt like a bit of a struggle’.
On Sunday Hatton appeared to have written a little message to himself on his golf glove that read: ‘Be nice’ with a smiley face
Hatton was subsequently blasted by Sky Sports commentator Ewen Murray who said: ‘It’s time for a change’
Yet he has not endured a bad year. In fact, he has seven top-ten finishes during his debut season on the LIV tour, with Hatton also winning in Singapore.
Despite his consistency on the breakaway league, Hatton has had a mixed time at the majors, placing T9 at the Masters but would agonisingly miss the cut at The Open.
After the third round, Sky Sports commentator and former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley said that Hatton would be ’embarrassed’ by his behaviour snapping his club.
‘Tyrrell is not the bad guy he comes across as,’ he said after the conclusion of his round. ‘All of us who know him behind the scenes know he’s a different Tyrrell than what comes across on the golf course.
‘But his behaviour is not acceptable from what we’ve seen, there’s no doubt about that.
‘I think tonight when he cools down and his team and his wife have words with him, there’ll be a lot of humble pie.
‘He’ll be really embarrassed about what he did today and how he behaved.’
McGinley also echoed Murray’s comments, adding that Hatton should now recognise that he has to change his attitude while on the course.
Hatton wuold go on to wrap up his weekend finishing T5 in the standings at -10
Earlier in the week he had suggested that he was feeling ‘uncomfortable’ in his swing
‘I think this could be a day when he may well realise, “you know what – now I do have to change”,’ he added.
‘”I’ve got to a level where this is not acceptable and that people are not enjoying me when I’m out there playing golf. I’ve got a phenomenal golf game, I’m blessed to have phenomenal talent.”
‘To have all the opportunities he has, he has to take advantage of that and have a little bit more respect for the game and also his competitors. It’s bad enough for us watching him, but imagine playing with him and listening to him the whole way around?
‘I think Tyrrell will realise that it is time to change, I hope he does. But what a phenomenal player, I’d put him in the top five in the world – he’s capable of winning not just one major, but many majors. That’s how good he is.’