2022 Masters: Tyrrell Hatton Bemoans ‘Unfair’ Augusta National

Tyrrell Hatton is not a fan of the Masters and he let out his frustrations after a tough week at Augusta National.

The Englishman has never been shy about letting his emotions show on the course, and now it seems as though he let some of that come out during his post-tournament interview.

The 2022 Masters proved to be a stern test for the majority of golfers not named Scottie Scheffler this past week. When the first Major Championship of the year came to a close there were just ten players in the field who finished at even-par or better.

Hatton was not one of those men as he finished out his week at 17 over par, it was the worst tally from anyone who had made it through to the weekend. Sunday imparticular was not kind to Tyrrell as he closed with an 80, good for eight over par for his final round.

Saturday wasn’t much better for Tyrrell Hatton after he shot a 79, it all added up to a frustrated Hatton having some stern words about the Masters and Augusta National come the end of the week.

Tyrrell Hatton had some stern words about Augusta National and the Masters

“Yeah, but you can hit good shots here and not get any reward for it. It’s unfair at times. I don’t agree with that,” was the stance Tyrrell Hatton decided to take following his round.

“If you hit a good shot, you should end up near the hole. Not then short-sided into a bunker because of the slopes that they’ve created and stuff. Yeah, I don’t think it’s a fair test at times, and when you hit good shots and you’re not rewarded for it, it shows,” he added.

Part of the magic of Augusta National comes from the challenge it presents to the best golfers in the world, the creativity that is required to succeed. Imaginative shots can be rewarded here, just look at what Rory McIlroy conjured up on his final hole of the day on Sunday. The beautiful imagination to find the correct slope to hit his bunker shot into, which would in turn allow it to funnel down towards the hole.

How about the memorable shot that Tiger Woods envisioned and executed to perfection on the 16th in 2005? Was that a case of a good shot also not being rewarded?

Tyrrell has struggled to find much success at the Masters in previous visits to Augusta, outside of an 18th place finish here in 2021, things have been tough for the Englishman at the Masters. It’s a course that he believes doesn’t really suit his eye.

“This course doesn’t really suit my eye, to be honest, so, yeah, it’s just one of those weeks that I feel like if I come back in the future, it’s just a case of trying to get through the best that I can. Not much,” he said.

“I think everything is exaggerated here”  -Tyrrell Hatton

You wouldn’t think that he would want to come back in the future based on his scathing description in regards to the ‘fairness’ of Augusta National. Perhaps he won’t be invited back after such remarks? I’m sure there are plenty of others who can only dream of being afforded the opportunity to play on these hallowed grounds.

Hatton had more to say regarding his thoughts on the course saying;

“I think it’s how the course is set up in general. You don’t really have to miss a shot, and your next one you’ll have — you’re really struggling to make par.

With how it runs off the greens here and the slopes that you are then chipping into and how obviously it’s cut, it just makes it really hard to even get chip shots close. I think everything is exaggerated here.”

Whether or not this is how he truly feels, or whether this was simply an emotional response following a difficult and trying day is difficult to determine. Either way, there are some things that should remain unsaid.

There was a point during his round that Tyrrell didn’t even see the point in trying anymore. A great attitude to take with you into a Major Championship.

“When you are clearly bottom of the field during the weekend, even if I feel like I’ve hit good shots out there, I’ve not been rewarded for them, so it’s a case of just lose a bit of interest. Certainly with the scores I had going, I’m kind of just — it’s not even trying to build on anything for next week. I’m just trying to ideally get off the golf course as fast as possible,” he added.

It seems that there were multiple reasons affecting Tyrrell Hatton’s performance this week, not just the ‘Unfairness’ of Augusta National. Perhaps a change in mindset would do him a world of good at this point. He seemingly is not in a good headspace when things aren’t going his way.

“Yeah. I haven’t enjoyed it,” he added when asked to comment on whether or not Augusta National suited his game.

I’m sure there will be plenty that will feel the same way about his comments this week.