Tyrrell Hatton is not only looking to curb his emotions on the golf courses of the PGA Tour but joked he is striving also to control one of his enjoyments in being in the US and that is the odd can of Dr. Pepper.
Not for a first time in this new but short chapter in his career Hatton has put himself into contention for victory and in posting scores of 69 and 68 for a five under par tally and sharing 16th place through two rounds of the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head in South Carolina.
The 25-year old High Wycombe has recorded seven birdies over the two days and just two bogeys on a Harbor Town course ravaged just six months ago by Hurricane Matthew.
And key to Hatton’s game is that he has averaged 10 of 14 days for the opening two debuts on the tight tree-lined and alligator-infested lay-out.
“It is just really important to hit fairways around here because if you are in the rough or on the wrong side of the dog-legs you can’t get anywhere near the greens”, he said.
Englands Tyrrell Hatton chatting with SKYs Nick Dougherty.
“Then also the greens are really small so they are quite tough to hit so it is important to be in the right position on the fairways.”
The reigning Alfred Dunhill Links Champion is a golfer very much to wear his heart of his sleeve as evident during the final round of the recent Honda Classic where he clearly showed his emotions in missing a birdie putt on the penultimate green and while playing in the company of Rickie Fowler, and the eventual winner.
However, Hatton says he is working hard to control his emotions but all the time enjoying the experience of competing on golf’s greatest stage.
“Except for my on-course demeanour I have enjoyed it out here,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed the American diet that consists of a lot of Dr. Pepper (smiling).
“But no, it has been great and I have really enjoyed it first when I was out here in 2012 and playing in these tournaments now, on such great golf courses and in front of huge crowds, it has been very good.
“So, I am happy it is going well. I do need to gain full status for next year given I have been granted Special Temporary Membership, so I am still working towards that.
“But then I know if I play well then that should take care of that. It is not something I am thinking about now, and while I was thinking of securing my Temporary Membership, when I first got over here, so it is all about taking one tournament at a time.
“My season so far has been really good and I am pleased and I am also excited now about this weekend.”
And Hatton looked back on the experience last week of competing in a first Masters and being a member of a record-setting 11-England born-players competing at Augusta National despite missing the cut with shock rounds of 80 and 78.
“It was great Sunday to Wednesday and while disappointed to have missed the cut, it is an event that I will always want to contest,” he said.
“It was just amazing to be there at the Masters and just hope I can do a better job when I get back there again.
“It was great to see how it unfolded on Sunday, and while it would have been nice to see another English winner, I think everyone in the golfing world was delighted for Sergio.”
