‘Three is the magic number': Tyrrell Hatton says pints of Guinness can fuel Open glory
It sounds like a distinctly old-school approach. But the fact Hatton was smiling as he talked, spoke volumes. He is clearly happy and relaxed. And, just as importantly, now appears far better at flushing out the anger that erupts when he falls short of perfection or gets a bad break. And that makes him a live danger in Portrush.
Hatton didn't think he played particularly well on day two. Yet he still finished it with a 69 to leave himself on -5 and a late start on Saturday.
Asked how he planned to unwind, he then broke into a smile. 'Normally a Guinness is a pretty good way to start. Certainly this week anyway.'
Would he be having a couple on Friday? 'It would be rude not to,' he replied. 'I think three is the magic number. Well, two to three, because you're definitely not close to a hangover and you still feel like you've got – hopefully I've got a late tee time tomorrow so I can have a lay-in, as well.'
Encouragingly, Hatton hit 28 out of 36 greens in regulation, a success rate that put him only behind Jon Rahm in the tournament late on Friday afternoon. Yet if a body language expert had spent the best part of five hours solely watching him, they might have expected he had suffered a shocker.
After every miss he angrily talked to himself, or whacked his back with his putter in an act of flagellation. But by the time the next shot came around he was ready to go again.
Were you trying to cheer yourself up with your angry words between shots, Hatton was asked. 'Oh, no,' he replied. 'It was pretty negative stuff.'
Do you want to share it with us? 'No, it'll get me in trouble,' he replied.
Sports psychologists like to tell athletes the importance of using the benefits of positive self-talk to enhance motivation and performance. Hatton, though, likes to berate himself instead. This, of course, is nothing new. And as Hatton admitted afterwards it is getting late for him to become a model of calm on the course.
'I'm 33. I think that ship has sailed, to be honest,' he admitted. 'I'm not going to change. It's just how I am, how I play.
'I've always felt like even though I can be losing my shit, I can get over the next shot and still have a clear mind of what I'm still trying to achieve,' he added.
'Although from the outside it looks like I'm completely gone, in my own mind I still know where I'm at.'
Is he now better at finding a balance, he was asked. 'I don't know,' came the reply. 'I was still pretty vocal. Maybe I'm just having to do it away from the microphone.'
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There were certainly some nice moments on Friday morning, including a 60-yard chip to within four feet on the difficult par-4 and a rattled-home 22-footer for birdie on the ninth. However, Hatton clearly wanted more in warm and sedate conditions that were good for scoring.
'It felt like a pretty frustrating day,' he said. 'I don't think there was anything that stood out that was amazing. I was generally solid. But I didn't hit it particularly close on many holes. I missed the green with a lob wedge into 14, which after a perfect tee shot was frustrating, and obviously ended up making bogey. That was a bit of a shame.'
Yet the experience of Oakmont, where in his 40th major he was deep in contention on the Sunday for the first time, has left him believing he will be able to handle the heightened pressures if they come at Portrush.
'I really enjoyed that experience in Oakmont,' he said. 'I know it wasn't the ending I'd liked, but how I dealt with everything there and even out on the golf course with the most pressure, I still feel like I hit some really good golf shots.
'I kind of left feeling proud and happy with how I dealt with everything. I'd love to have another chance to win.'
Could he do it at Portrush? 'Potentially,' he says. 'Time will tell, I guess. But overall I am in a decent position. But it's been a solid couple of days. I'm happy with a few parts of my game. I'd like to be in the fairway more this weekend and hitting it a bit closer. But I can't really complain too much.'
And with that he was off to drink Guinness, to unwind – and, perhaps, to allow himself to dream.
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