Professional golfer Tyrrell Hatton shared that he surpassed Rory McIlroy’s score at the Dubai Desert Classic after indulging in wine and Guinness over the Christmas holiday. Hatton humorously mentioned feeling like the Titanic during his opening round defending his title in January.
During a round of golf with McIlroy, Hatton joked about their holiday indulgences, focusing on the wine they enjoyed rather than golf. He revealed his weight gain post-Christmas, surprising McIlroy with his increase to 204 pounds from 190 pounds before the Ryder Cup.
Hatton admitted to a festive December of minimal training, no cardio, and lots of drinking, including enjoying Guinness on tap at home. He now aims to shed some weight through a “damp January,” balancing occasional indulgences with healthier choices.
Known for his love of Guinness, Hatton’s past drinking habits included multiple pints during events like the Open and celebrating Ryder Cup qualifications with messy outcomes. Despite his conditioning, Hatton managed a decent performance in his first competitive round of 2026.
Struggling with stiffness on the course, Hatton likened his movements to the Titanic, feeling rusty and acknowledging the need to improve. Both McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, playing alongside Hatton, focused on their golf game rather than discussing fines related to conflicting tour results.
Polish golfer Adrian Meronk echoed concerns over fines imposed on players competing in multiple tours, advocating for a fair resolution between the tours to alleviate player dissatisfaction.