Hatton wins ‘dream’ Dubai Desert Classic title

Tyrrell Hatton was presented with the prestigious Dallah Trophy by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, in front of record-breaking crowds at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, where a final-round three-under-par 69 secured the Englishman his fifth Rolex Series title.

Hatton began the decisive day at the Majlis Course just one shot behind overnight leader Daniel Hillier, as fans filled the venue to capacity after all ticket types sold out over the weekend.

The 33-year-old quickly drew level with a birdie on the second after a fortunate bounce from the left rough saw his tee shot settle on the green before two-putting.

Hillier went back in front with a tap-in birdie at the par-five next after Hatton had been forced to lay up after driving into a bunker.

Hatton leapfrogged his playing partner at the fifth, making a gain from four feet as Hillier bogeyed after a duffed chip, and was not to be knocked off the top of the leaderboard from that point.

Hatton doubled his advantage on the sixth with a birdie from nine feet, with Hillier spurning a chance from half that distance.

A huge break came Hatton’s way when his tee shot came up short at the seventh and rolled towards the water, only to stop in the rough inches from the hazard, with the Ryder Cup star getting up-and-down for par.

Both players birdied the long tenth – Hillier leaving an eagle attempt a fraction shy – but the New Zealander then stuck his tee shot close at the 11th, with the subsequent gain halving Hatton’s lead to one.

Hatton found rough down the left off the tee at the 12th and pulled his approach into another nasty lie but, although he dropped a shot, Hillier was unable to take advantage as he failed to get up and down. Both players were unable to take advantage of the long 13th and Hillier did well to save par from a bunker at the 15th as the battle for the title turned into a war of attrition.

The lack of birdies at the top of the leaderboard briefly offered hopes to the likes of Laurie Canter, Rory McIlroy, Shaun Norris and Niklas Norgaard.

However, Hatton took a huge stride towards victory with a brilliant wedge approach to the 16th that set up a tap-in birdie.

There was still time for a few jitters on the 18th. Hatton unsurprisingly laid up but a conservative approach to the back of the green in order to take the water out of play left him with a 45-foot birdie effort.

Hillier had gone for the green in two and gone over the back, but made a nine-footer for birdie to leave Hatton a testing five-footer, which he duly converted to finish the tournament on 15 under, one shot ahead of Hillier.

“It feels amazing,” said Hatton after claiming his eighth DP World Tour win and a record-equalling fifth Rolex Series title.

“I said earlier in the week, this is one of the events that you would like to have on your C.V. It’s such an iconic event for the DP World Tour.

“To add my name to the list of the amazing champions that have been before me, to have my name on that trophy now, it’s a dream come true.”

Canter finished alone in third on 13 under after posting a final day 68, while Norgaard and four-time winner McIlroy finished in a share of fourth on 12 under after the pair each carded a closing 66.