LIV Golf star calls into question Royal Troon setup in first round of The Open Championship

Tyrrell Hatton Questions Royal Troon Setup in The Open Championship First Round

Tyrrell Hatton expressed concerns over the Royal Troon setup during the first round of The 152nd Open Championship, criticizing the R&A’s decision not to adjust any tees in response to the wind direction.

The 32-year-old LIV Golf star commented after finishing his opening round with a 2-over 73 on the Ayrshire links. His round included 16 pars and two consecutive bogeys on holes 14 and 15, leaving him eight shots behind the early leader, fellow Englishman and major debutant Dan Brown.

Hatton was particularly perplexed by the R&A’s choice not to move up any tee boxes, especially on the par-5 4th and 6th holes, making it impossible for players to reach the greens in two shots. He also criticized the setup of the par-5 16th, where players had to use long irons to avoid a stream in the fairway.

“They didn’t put any tees forward,” Hatton stated, visibly frustrated. “You can’t reach any of the par-5s on the front nine. On the 15th or 16th, you’re hitting a 4-iron off the tee. Tell me a good par-5 where you’re hitting 4-iron off the tee. There isn’t one.”

Hatton also questioned the R&A’s decision to move the tee back on the tough par-3 17th. Despite the favorable wind, he noted that hitting a 5-iron or 7-iron to stay on the green was still a challenging task.

“Even though they’ve moved the tee back on 17, which I think is a shame, it’s still with the wind today, you’re hitting 5-iron and hoping it can stay on the green,” Hatton explained. “Rory [McIlroy] obviously hits it a lot higher and further, and he was hitting 7-iron there. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s a tough hole, and it’s still hard to hit that green. I think it’s a good thing that the wind was playing down because they probably would have left the tee at the back if it was into off the left. Then do you want to watch guys hit 3-wood into a green that’s hard enough to hit with 7-iron?”

Hatton, who recently secured his first title in the LIV Golf League with a six-shot victory over Sam Horsfield in Nashville, is one of 18 LIV Golf players competing in The Open Championship this week. Many consider him the best English hope for winning a major title.