The Players: Tyrrell Hatton surprised by shock runner-up finish behind Scottie Scheffler at TPC Sawgrass | Golf News

Scottie Scheffler returned to world No. 1 with a five-shot victory at The Players; Tyrrell Hatton birdied seven of the last nine holes to equal the back-9 record at TPC Sawgrass and jump into second place.

Tyrrell Hatton admitted he was surprised by the finish that saw him finish runner-up at The Players.

Hatton entered the final round nine shots off the pace and exited the top-30 when a bogey on the par-five ninth saw him finish on 36 on Sunday, only to climb up the leaderboard with an extraordinary back nine at TPC Sawgrass.

The Englishman followed up a 20-foot birdie at the 10th with a conversion from six feet at the driveable 12th, with Hatton responding to a missed chance from 10 feet at the next by birdieing each of the last five holes for an even-par back-nine total. in the history of the tournament.

Hatton mixed eight birdies with a single bogey during the final day at TPC Sawgrass

Hatton’s back nine 29 saw him set the clubhouse target at 12 under, which was good enough for second place as Scottie Scheffler closed out a five-shot victory to secure his return to world No.1.

When asked if he was looking forward to the PGA Tour flagship event, Hatton told reporters: No, mainly about how I hit the tee on the front nine! Well, it was only two and a half hours at the end, I guess, from standing on the 10th tee.

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Highlights from the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass

“Really happy with how it played out. Yes, a good day’s work. If you have said that you will finish second in the tournament and you do not have to play the back nine, I think you will take that!

Hatton’s strong results followed a top-six finish at the WM Phoenix Open in February and a fourth place showing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with the 31-year-old expected to move into the top 30 in the FedExCup standings.

Tyrrell Hatton impressed on his final day at The Players

“I made a comment earlier this week that after playing in the tournament at Bay Hill on Sunday, I only got 110. [FedExCup] This point is disappointing,” added Hatton.

“Every year, we all try to get as many points as we can. This year is no different. It’s probably the sixth FedEx event of the season, so I’m playing to catch a lot of people who have played enough. A bit of golf already.

“Obviously some of the European players are in the same boat where we played DP World at the end of the calendar year and we missed a few events in the United States. So, yeah, I’m just out here trying to earn as many points as I can and try and adjust yourself well for next year.”

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Scottie Scheffler explained that he was thankful and relieved to win the 2023 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, but that he was very tired after the tournament.

Scheffler took a two-shot lead into the final day and never relinquished the lead in a dominant victory, with five birdies and two bogeys in a three-under 69 to claim his sixth PGA Tour title in 13 months.

“Yes [Scheffler] very impressive,” said Hatton. “Really consistent. He has incredible golf. Played with him last Sunday and it was clear he wasn’t at his best that day, but he still hung around and had chances at the end.

“It’s pretty hard to do that when you don’t have the best golf and still give yourself a chance to win. So, yeah, it’s great what he did.”