Tyrrell Hatton’s boyhood dream of 23-years ago is now just one round from becoming a reality in capturing the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The 28-year old Englishman capped his round in brilliantly eagled the 12th hole in a round of a three-under par 69 lead the field by three shots at 14-under par on the famed ‘Burma Road’ course.
Next best is Frenchman Victor Perez (70) and Dane Joachim B. Hansen (70) at 11-under par.
Four players – the England pair of Tommy Fleetwood (67) and David Horsey (67) along with American Patrick Reed (68) but a disappointed Shane Lowry (74) share fourth place at 10-under par.
Hattton earlier this year broke through on the PGA Tour to capture the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational and he’s now set his sights on a fifth European Tour victory and a first since capturing last year’s Turkish Airlines Open.
Tyrrell Hatton sets his sights on a victory at the BMW PGA – Photo @europeantour)
“I’m very happy to be in the position I’m in as you can’t win the tournament today,” he said.
“There’s a lot of golf still to be played tomorrow, so I’ve just got to go out there tomorrow and try my best. Obviously take confidence from the fact that I’ve won on Tour before, and hopefully I can control myself and we should have a good day.”
Hatton revealed he was just five years old when he father first took him by the hand to first visit the championship and ever since the now World No. 15 has harboured a dream to capture the European Tour’s flagship event.
“To win the BMW PGA would be really special,” he said. ”
It’s kind of a career goal for me to win this event. Being here as a five-year-old and now being inside the ropes is pretty cool. Hopefully I can do that tomorrow.”
Hatton was virtually handed the lead when Ireland’s Shane Lowry double the ninth hole for both he and the Englishman to then be sharing the lead at 11-under par and then moments later Hatton holed-out for the eagle at the 12th. He then birdied 13, and while dropping a shot on 15, he then completed his day with a third birdie in succession on 18.
He already has two Rolex Series titles to his credit and is now favourite for a third.
“It would be really special to win another Rolex Series, and to win this event would be amazing,” he said. “But we still have 18 holes to go and a lot can happen in that time.
“So I’ve just got to go out there tomorrow, hopefully play another good round of golf and just see what happens”.
Lowry, and who had shared the lead heading into day three, was left lamenting three unforced errors that cost his four shots, including a ninth hole double-bogey and last hole bogey, to end his round with a two-over par 74 and tumble to a share of fourth place at 10-under par.
“It was an ugly finish and he’s now got it all to do,” said SKY’s Ewen Murray.
