Tyrrell Hatton has boosted his odds of securing a spot in the European Ryder Cup team next year following two strong performances in the DP World Tour playoffs.

LIV Golf star Hatton has returned to Tour action recently, earning his place in the season-ending playoffs with a win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last month. Starting in Abu Dhabi, the Englishman nearly clinched two wins in two starts but fell just short.

Hatton finished the event at Yas Links in second place, two strokes behind champion Paul Waring, which bolstered his position in the European Ryder Cup standings by earning crucial points. He added to his score a week later at the DP World Tour Championship, securing another top-10 finish after ending the Middle East event in sixth place, five strokes behind winner Rory McIlroy.

This achievement also resulted in a further jump in the European standings. However, Hatton’s opportunities to earn Ryder Cup points will likely be limited as he heads into the new season, having pledged his allegiance to LIV Golf since February. This means it’s crucial for him to perform well in any rare DP World Tour starts he may have, as well as in the four majors.

Hatton has had a strong finish to the year, placing first, second and sixth in his last three starts. As the 2024 campaign wraps up, Hatton sits third in the European Ryder Cup standings, trailing only Rasmus Hojgaard and winner McIlroy.

The top six players in the standings by the end of qualification next August will secure automatic spots. Even if Hatton misses out due to his extended Tour absence next year, he’ll still have the opportunity to play as a captain’s pick. However, the Legion XIII member is aiming for automatic qualification.

Hatton joined LIV Golf ahead of the 2024 season

Hatton joined LIV Golf ahead of the 2024 season ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

Despite his recent impressive performances, Hatton’s return to the Tour was not without controversy. His on-course behavior during the week in Dubai drew criticism, particularly during Saturday’s third round when he broke a club in frustration after a wayward shot into the 14th green.

“Tyrrell is not the bad guy he comes across here, but his behaviour is not acceptable from what we have seen,” commented former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley following Hatton’s club snap. “I think tonight when he cools down, and his team and wife have words with him, there will be a lot of humble pie.”

Hatton’s behavior was seen as a wake-up call: “He will be really embarrassed with what he did today and how behaved. He will know, you almost hit rock bottom before you decide you have got to do something about this, and I think this could be a day where he realises, ‘You know, I have got to change. This is not acceptable’.”

Hatton seemed to take the criticism to heart, as the next day he sported gloves with ‘Be Happy’ and a smiley face penned on them.