Hatton Vows To Keep Climbing After Maiden PGA Tour Win

Modest! Golf’s Tyrrell Hatton came through the toughest examination of the season so far to claim a maiden PGA Tour triumph at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Tyrrell Hatton insists he will keep striving in his bid to climb the FedEx Cup rankings after securing his PGA Tour future with victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The Englishman entered the final round at a devilishly difficult Bay Hill holding a two-shot advantage and duly held off the field with the ultimate grinding performance; his two-over par closing round of 74 good enough to claim the title from Australian Marc Leishman by a single stroke.

“It’s an incredible feeling to win on the PGA Tour,” reflected Hatton.

“To do it at such an iconic venue that I’ve grown up watching as a kid on TV, and to be sitting here next to the trophy now is an amazing feeling and I’m very thankful I managed to hold on at the end.”

It was anything but easy for the 28-year old who could draw on his experience of four European Tour victories down the stretch.

Standing on the 11th tee with a three-shot lead, Hatton found water left and went over the back of the green with his third before making a clutch putt for double-bogey – a brave six-footer that would prove crucial to his win.

Hairy moments followed for the former Ryder Cup star but hairy moments followed for everyone and it was Hatton who managed conditions best of all.

Needing a par to win up the last, he found the fairway and arrowed his approach to the heart of the green before taking the necessary two-putts and clinching victory at four-under par.

“The hardest thing for me today was trying to keep myself level headed,” Hatton confessed.

“Obviously there were a few times where I did boil over a little bit, but nothing compared to what I’ve been like in the past. I feel like with how tough it was, for me I did a good job.”

Not just a good job, a great one. The win sees Hatton jump 67 places to 14th on the FedEx Cup standings; he leaps 10 spots to 22nd in the World Golf Rankings while on top of the $1,674,000 first prize cheque, he also earns arguably an even more valuable three-year PGA Tour exemption.

“A three year exemption? Wow,” was Hatton’s reaction when told. “Coming into this week, I didn’t have any exemptions, so when the season starts you are kind of just playing to keep your status for the following year.

“That’s amazing. I kind of know where I’m at now for a while which is great and hopefully I can push on and keep climbing the FedEx Cup.”

The sky’s the limit now for Modest! Golf client Hatton whose victory is also a first PGA Tour win for the Niall Horan owned company, who only signed their first player three and a half years ago.

“We’ve seen first-hand how hard Tyrrell’s been working in the off-season and we’re all so excited for him,” said Horan.

“To be able to perform the way he did against some of the world’s best players, and on a course like Bay Hill is an incredible achievement. We’re all so proud to see him rise to #22 in the World Rankings.

“It’s a pleasure to work with someone who is as dedicated as Tyrrell and we’re proud to play some small part in his continued success.”

Hatton tees up again this Thursday when he will attempt to become the first Englishman to win the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Before thoughts turn to the year’s ‘fifth Major’, however, both understandably and deservedly, Hatton intends to enjoy this one first.

“It’s hard to think about next week at the moment with the sort of potential celebrations we have got later today,” he smiled. “I don’t think I’ll be in any fit state at least until Wednesday!”