Tyrell Hatton faces fine for US PGA outburst as Vegas leads the pack
Hatton was within a shot of the lead when reaching the tee at the 18th, his 9th. Hatton's drive found a water hazard. What happened next was rather typical for a player prone to tempestuous moments on golf courses. The 33-year-old bawled out 'piece of shit' before adding a c-word insult, apparently towards his driver. Hatton's mood hardly improved as he slumped to a triple-bogey seven.
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'It wasn't my finest moment on the course,' said Hatton of his outburst. 'I was running hot in that moment. I'm pretty good sometimes at saying the wrong thing.'
The strange thing is Hatton's refusal to moderate his behaviour. Perhaps he thinks he does not need to. Maybe last year's move to LIV Golf has loosened his inhibitions even further. Rebel tour, rebel antics.
At the Dubai Desert Classic in January, Hatton plunged a club right through a tee marker. By Sunday, Hatton was holding the trophy. Hatton was widely condemned for ranting, raving and club snapping at another Dubai event last November. He needs to tone it down a couple of notches, if simply on the basis of example-setting. He remains a fantastic player; there is no need for the histrionics.
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Shane Lowry summoned his inner Hatton as he whacked the turf in anger on the 8th. Lowry had found a horrible lie on the fairway. 'Fuck this place,' added the 2019 Open champion for good measure. What an intemperate scene.
Mud balls, a theme in this US PGA, have troubled Hatton, albeit to a lesser extent than that drive. 'You do your job off the tee, you hit a good shot then all of a sudden you are missing a green by 10 yards with an eight iron because there is mud on the ball,' Hatton said. 'It is a bit harsh and so inconsistent, it's not like the ball always does the same thing. I don't like the fact it is a bit of a wild guess.
'I was surprised it wasn't pick-up-and-place with how wet it was here on Wednesday. But it is the same for everyone.'
Hatton's 73 left him at one under, seven shy of Jhonattan Vegas. The Venezuelan added a 70 to Thursday's 64. To portray this as strange would be huge understatement; Vegas has reached the age of 40 without posting a major top 10. He surely cannot keep up his form around Quail Hollow … can he?
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The first meaningful sign of Vegas nerves arrived at the last, where he slumped to a double bogey, after three birdies on the back nine. Vegas enjoyed an outrageous piece of fortune on the 17th, where his wayward tee shot rebounded from a bunker rake and on to the green. Otherwise, it was 20 yards wide.
Matthieu Pavon carded a superb 65 to move to minus six. Matt Fitzpatrick's welcome return to form continued, his 68 enough to equal Pavon's total. The Yorkshireman has rediscovered his touch in a fiendishly tough environment. Scottie Scheffler is in close proximity, naturally.
Si Woo Kim blasted into contention with a hole in one at the 6th. Max Homa's 64 means a five-under aggregate at halfway. Bryson DeChambeau lurks with intent. The reigning US Open champion's 68 moved him to three under. DeChambeau's position would be even better but for a messy bogey at the 9th, his final hole.
'It is a great test,' said DeChambeau of this Charlotte venue. 'It was a weird day. I felt like I was playing good, just didn't get anything out of it. I got some weird breaks out there. That's what this golf course does to you. I've just got to have my putting a little more on and keep playing the way I am. I easily could be seven or eight under right now or I could be even par. I think a 65, 64 is out there. I almost shot it today and I definitely saw it out there, I just didn't accomplish it.'
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It would be a surprise if DeChambeau is not part of the round four equation. Quail Hollow typically rewards those with the Californian's driving power. This is a major that has still to burst into song.
Dustin Johnson comfortably missed the cut after rounds of 78 and 76. Cameron Smith's strange slide towards golfing oblivion continued with a third major early exit in a row. Justin Rose, who pushed Rory McIlroy so close at the Masters only last month, was a surprise departure at plus nine. Justin Thomas, who won the US PGA here in 2019, and Ludvig Åberg also found themselves on Friday evening planes out of Charlotte.
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