Tyrrell Hatton admitted to being nervous about messaging his European Ryder Cup teammates again after joining LIV Golf.
The Englishman inboxed the Team Europe group chat before heading to the Masters and had butterflies at the thought of returning to an event full of familiar faces from the PGA Tour which he left at the start of the year.
Since following Jon Rahm to LIV’s Legion XIII team, Hatton has made no bones about how difficult it was to jump ship. It was less than a week before the Saudi-backed circuit’s season-opening event in Mexico at the start of February when he still hadn’t decided what path to take.
“I have friends on the PGA Tour, and it was so nice to see them. It’s only been a couple of months, but it’s great. I get on well with quite a few of the guys. It was a warm reception coming back,” he said at Augusta National.
“In some ways, you’re always a bit nervous coming back, but yeah, I think when I messaged the group chat, to the Ryder Cup chat to tell the lads that I was going, I was nervous sending the message. Obviously, I was nervous joining LIV, as well.
“But the messages that I got back were like really positive and made me feel at ease. As I said, it’s been great to see those guys this week. I’m looking forward to seeing them again next month at the PGA Championship.
“I’m not going to single anyone out,” he added. “Just in general I had really nice messages from pretty much all the guys. That was nice because obviously, they’re good friends. Like Rome was incredible (2023 Ryder Cup). We had such a special week together.
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“They’re people I care about, too. The fact that they were very positive made me feel a lot better.”
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The response Hatton received put his mind at rest and allowed him to finish in a tie for ninth at the Masters. With his future in major championships in doubt following LIV Golf’s failed attempt to be allowed access to Official World Golf Ranking Points, Hatton’s top-12 finish will be enough for him to secure an invite down Magnolia Lane next year regardless of his position in the rankings.
Hatton’s nerves come from the scrutiny that is often attached to a player’s decision to join LIV Golf, a circuit that was masterminded by CEO Greg Norman in 2022 with the backing of the infinitely rich Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
He has previously described it as stepping into “the unknown” as LIV has adopted a team format running concurrently with an individual format, a shotgun start structure and 54-hole events. The rebel league has been seen as a challenge to golf’s established order that exists in the shape of the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
But like many, Hatton is hopeful that a resolution betwen the PGA Tour and the PIF can be found. It won’t be long until June and the anniversary of the public announcement of the framework agreement between the rival parties and, although a compromise is yet to be officially agreed, Hatton hopes peace is in sight and he intends on playing on the DP World Tour soon despite his new allegiance with LIV.
“I think we all hope it does come together. How it obviously works out is almost anyone’s guess and for other people to worry about,” he said.
“For me, I’ve made a decision to play LIV Golf, and I’m still looking at trying to play events on the DP World Tour, which guys have been able to do over the last couple of years, and the guys know which events I’m trying to play. We’ll see how it all pans out.”
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(Image credit: LIV Golf Media)
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