Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton says that the relaxed nature of Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has been the key to his success here as he hopes to bring Ryder Cup momentum into his title defence this week.
Playing under the intense microscope of the Ryder Cup has been an environment where Hatton has thrived, and he is hoping to take some of that momentum in his game into his title defence this week.
The Englishman, who secured the winning half-point in Europe's 15-13 victory over the U.S. Team at Bethpage Black, played a huge part in the fifth European side to win on away soil and first since the Miracle of Medinah in 2012.
The joint second-highest point scorer of the week and one of only two undefeated players for Europe along with Shane Lowry, Hatton earned two foursomes points alongside Jon Rahm, a four-balls point with Matt Fitzpatrick and tied his singles match against Collin Morikawa. He also went undefeated in Rome, with a record in both instances of 3-0-1.
"I don't feel like I've had a lot of time to reflect if I'm honest," Hatton admitted after heading straight from New York to Scotland.
"I think starting from next week where I've got some time off, that will allow me to sit down and sort of take in what we've all just experienced. But yeah, winning or securing the half-point that got us over the line is a great feeling. But at the end of the day, it's a team effort.
"We did an amazing job Friday and Saturday, and although Sunday was an extremely difficult day, yeah, we've achieved it as a team. So it was very special."
Paying a small bit of credit to the environment for his performance last week, Hatton is now coming into this week as defending champion and hoping to bring that momentum to a place where he has an incredible amount of success.
"Obviously every week you go into, you always try your best," he said in a press conference on Wednesday.
"I think the slightly more relaxed nature of this week plays a part. Playing the Ryder Cup the week before under such an intense microscope, your game gets lifted normally in those environments and I feel like I played some really good golf at times last week.
"Yeah, just try and take that into this week and hopefully I can get myself another opportunity to win this tournament.
"As we all know, I can lose my head, and maybe that's played a part in why I've played well here."
Hatton has made the trip from the Ryder Cup to the Dunhill Links twice before, in 2018 and 2021, and finished tied second in both instances. The only three-time winner of this tournament, with victories in 2016, 2017 and 2024 - which included a course record equalling 61 - Hatton has an outstanding record at the Home of Golf.
Asked what the key is to making that transition from Ryder Cup to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Hatton quipped about the infamous doughnuts at the halfway house at The Old Course.
"I think it's the doughnuts on the ninth hole that just get me through; the halfway house is dangerous," he said.
He'll be teeing up this week alongside his dad Jeff, who got a front row seat to his victory last year, finishing second together in the Team Championship.
Hatton Senior was also with Tyrrell at Bethpage Black last week, and the pair will be vying to improve on last year's record as he goes in search of a record fourth title.
