Tyrrell Hatton's Festive Weight Gain Stuns Rory McIlroy in Dubai
Professional golfer Tyrrell Hatton has disclosed that his Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy was left "horrified" upon discovering the extent of his Christmas weight gain. The LIV Golf star admitted to piling on a significant stone over the festive period, indulging in copious amounts of wine and Guinness before defending his title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Revealing the Festive Excess
During their opening round together in Dubai, Hatton shared the details of his December indulgence with McIlroy. "And then he was horrified to hear what weight I was on January 1st," laughed the world number 21. He revealed his weight had ballooned to 204 pounds (14 stone 6 pounds), a substantial increase from the 190 pounds (13 stone 6 pounds) he maintained just before the Ryder Cup.
"Yeah, I enjoyed my December," Hatton confessed. "I did do some training. Zero cardio and a lot of drinking. So, yeah, I had a Guinness tap in the house, which was enjoyable." The golfer acknowledged his current focus is on shedding the excess weight, describing his approach as "damp January" rather than completely abstaining from alcohol.
Performance Impact and Physical Struggles
Despite his lack of conditioning and minimal preparation, Hatton managed to card an opening round of 70 in challenging conditions. However, he described his physical state candidly: "It wasn't pretty. I was turning like the Titanic! Can't move. I still feel pretty stiff." He attributed his rustiness to limited practice, having only been on a golf course five times since November's Saudi International tournament.
The English golfer's performance placed him five shots behind clubhouse leader Francesco Molinari, who carded an impressive 65. Both McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, playing in the same group as Hatton, shot 73s in the blustery conditions.
Avoiding LIV Golf Controversy
Notably absent from their on-course conversation was any discussion of the ongoing tensions between the DP World Tour and LIV Golf. McIlroy had previously suggested in his pre-tournament press conference that Hatton should pay fines imposed for playing on the Saudi-backed tour to maintain his Ryder Cup eligibility.
Hatton addressed the matter diplomatically: "I don't think we need to talk about that. We're out there to focus on trying to play good golf... I ended up seeing what was said. And he said that's his opinion. So everyone's allowed an opinion. I've got nothing more to add to that."
Broader Tour Controversy
The issue of fines for LIV Golf participation remains contentious among players. Poland's Adrian Meronk, who finds himself in a similar position to Hatton and Jon Rahm, expressed his dissatisfaction: "I don't think it's fair that we are getting fined to play somewhere else. That's why there's so much discussion about it and that's why the players are not happy with the fines."
Meronk called for greater cooperation between tours: "I think there should be some kind of agreement between those two tours or three tours, I guess." This sentiment reflects the ongoing divisions within professional golf as players navigate competing tour commitments and the financial penalties associated with their choices.
Hatton's History of Celebration
This isn't the first time Hatton's celebratory habits have made headlines. The golfer has previously revealed enjoying "two to three" Guinnesses nightly during his Open challenge at Royal Portrush last summer. He also described waking up in his own vomit following what he called a "messy" celebration after qualifying for his fourth Ryder Cup team.
As Hatton continues his title defence in Dubai, his candid admission about festive excess and weight gain has provided an unexpected subplot to the tournament. His commitment to "damp January" and renewed focus on fitness suggests recognition that professional success requires balancing enjoyment with discipline, even for elite athletes.
