Record-breaking week ends with Hatton defending Dunhill Links
Tyrrell Hatton doubled his European Tour title tally by defending in some style in a week where records tumbled
What happened at the Dunhill Links Championship?
Tyrrell Hatton became the first player to successfully defend the tournament which has been running since 2001.
Hatton carded a final-round 66 to reach 24-under-par and hold off the charge of Ross Fisher – who broke the course record with a 61 over St Andrews’ original links.
It is Hatton’s second European Tour victory.
The first man to defend the #DunhillLinks title. ? pic.twitter.com/Ip7NA1jFWl
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 8, 2017
Fisher finished three back on 21 under, while Victor Dubuisson, who has suffered a disappointing run of form since winning the Turkish Airlines Open in 2015, finished 3rd at 17 under. Marc Warren, Robert Rock and Gregory Bourdy shared 4th at 14 under.
At the other end of the leaderboard, Rory McIlroy’s final competitive round of 2017 was a disappointing 72 that saw him finish at 4-under in a tie for 63rd.
The Team Championship was won by Jamie Donaldson and Irish stud farm owner Kieran McManus thanks to a stunning 16-under-par final round of 56. It is the third time McManus has won the Dunhill Links team event.
Congratulations to @DonaldsonJamie and Kieran McManus, winners of the team competition with a total of 40 under par.#DunhillLinks pic.twitter.com/gpYNNQ9mL5
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 8, 2017
Donaldson and McManus finished on 40-under-par, three clear of their nearest challengers – Rock and Brian McFadden, Dubuisson and Shantanu Narayen, and Yikeun Chang and Erwee Botha.
Talking point
Well it has to be Fisher’s record-breaking round, doesn’t it?
And oh how much better it could have been. The 2010 Ryder Cup player had a putt for 59 on the Old Course’s famous 18th, but he left that short then missed his four-footer for 60.
Still, 61 still earns the 36-year-old a place in the Home of Golf’s history books.
The Old Course has a new course record.@RossFisher signs for a 61. ? pic.twitter.com/zEvruEpcrC
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 8, 2017
According to the European Tour, there have been more than 13,300 professional rounds over the Old Course. None have been lower than Fisher’s.
Two days before, Tommy Fleetwood broke Carnoustie’s course record with a 63.
Best shots of the week
Fleetwood probably knew it would be his day after this…
When the #RacetoDubai leader goes firing at pins. ? pic.twitter.com/AtQJWACBIx
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 7, 2017
And Ernie Els rolled back the years…
The Big Easy still has it!
Monster eagle putt on the 18th at St Andrews. pic.twitter.com/GRSXkv63SW
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 5, 2017
And how about this eagle from the big man…
352 yard drive. 40ft putt.
Massive from @kiradech. pic.twitter.com/F7W98se4dJ
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 8, 2017
Worst shot of the week
Oh, Brian…
When the golf ball won't listen… twice. ?
Sorry, @BrianMcFadden! pic.twitter.com/0PApjhD7S9
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 6, 2017
Quote of the week
“It would have been perfect as well!”
"Oh no, that's not possible!"
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 7, 2017
Don’t worry, Tyrrell, it all worked out fine in the end…
Stats of the week
Other than Fisher having the lowest of more than 13,300 rounds at the Old Course?
Hatton went 55 holes without a bogey this week.
Nobody has had a longer bogey-free stretch in one event in 2017. pic.twitter.com/um2Zk1RF8m
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 8, 2017
‘I didn’t like links golf – then I had an epiphany’
Quick 9: Best shots on links courses
What do European Tour professionals think of links golf?
Click here for the full archive from NCG’s Links Week
Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
