Defending Alfred Dunhill Links champion Tyrrell Hatton does not intend to tone down his passionate approach to the game, despite criticism from fellow professionals.
The 25-year-old from High Wycombe is bidding to become the first player to successfully defend the title at St Andrews and arrives at the home of golf in fine fettle after finishing tied eighth at the British Masters and tied third at the Omega European Masters on his most recent outings.
But the Englishman was on the receiving end of some harsh words from fellow pro Gary Evans who criticised Hatton’s demeanour during the final round of the British Masters on Sunday. He described the 25-year-old’s “on-course whingeing and body language” as a “disgrace” and urged his compatriot to “grow up”.
When asked about the comments from Evans, who has made 354 appearances on the European Tour, Hatton replied: “I’m a passionate person and I just try my best to win a golf tournament.
“Occasionally that spills over, and I’m human. I’m going to make mistakes from time to time.
“Nobody’s perfect and everyone goes about their ways differently. But that is not to say one way is right and another way is wrong.
“I’m just trying to win and in the heat of battle sometimes you can do the wrong thing. That’s just how it is.”
Meanwhile, fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood hopes becoming a father can help provide the extra impetus required to emerge victorious this weekend.
Ranked 17th in the world, Fleetwood has already won twice and finished second twice this season and leads the European Tour’s Race to Dubai order of merit by almost one million points from nearest challenger Sergio Garcia.
The 26-year-old from Southport skipped last week’s British Masters to be with his partner Clare Craig for the birth of son Franklin last Thursday.
Golf betting expert Keith Elliott came up with the term “nappy factor” 20 years ago to refer to the substantial boost in performance sportsmen receive after the birth of their first child.
Danny Willett won last year’s Masters, his maiden major, just days after becoming a father and Fleetwood would love to replicate the feat at St Andrews this week.
He said: “I can’t actually believe after going through that you can win the Masters the next week.
“It was unbelievable what Danny Willett did.
“But those kinds of things happen and when you are on a high and your mind is not fully on golf then it might work in your favour.
“I don’t know how I’m going to feel when I tee off. I might feel great and be really into it or I might be thinking about other things.
“I like the venues so if I play well, there’s no reason why I can’t do it.
“Other people have won when they have just had a baby so why not me?”
