'I disagree with playing less...' Tyrrell Hatton on being driven to make Ryder Cup team

Tyrrell Hatton disagreed with a reporter's assumption that he was now playing less as a result of having joined LIV Golf in 2024, solely because he is doing everything he can to make Luke Donald's European Ryder Cup team next season. 

Despite there being just 14 events on the LIV Golf season schedule, Hatton, 33, is making his 27th start of 2024 at this week's PIF Saudi International on the Asian Tour. 

The tournament marks the season finale on the International Series, which is backed by LIV Golf. 

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The PIF Saudi International will also mark the last of what has been an impressive season for Hatton. 

The fiery Englishman not only clinched his first LIV Golf title with a six-shot romp in Nashville, but he also recently returned to the DP World Tour to land a record third Dunhill Links at the Home of Golf.

And with it rack up some valuable European Ryder Cup points in the process. 

As it stands, Hatton lies third in the automatic European Ryder Cup standings ahead of meeting the United States at Bethpage Black in New York next September.

The top six come next September's cut-off point will make the team automatically, and Donald will then receive six picks. 

Should Hatton make the team it will mark his fourth straight appearance on Team Europe.

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But Hatton knows with LIV Golf remaining shut out of receiving any Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and Ryder Cup points for the time being that he will need to perform well in the majors next season. 

Thankfully based on his world ranking position of 16th right now, Hatton is just about assured of competing in all four majors in 2025. 

Hatton's determination to make Donald's European Ryder Cup team in September is clear for all to see.

While many would expect Hatton to be the easiest captain's pick should he require one based on his current form, he wants to leave nothing to chance.

And that will no doubt be music to the ears of skipper Donald. 

"I want to be on the Ryder Cup team," said Hatton.

"I think with how certainly the win at the Dunhill and then playing well in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the World Rankings that I got from there, I think I'm pretty much secure in -- I don't think I can fall outside the top 100, so I'll be in the U.S. PGA. And I don't think I can fall outside the top 60 before the cut for the U.S. Open. The fact that I've got all four U.S. majors next year is great.

"Outside of that, the only event I've got Ryder Cup points would be the Desert Classic in January. My opportunities for Ryder Cup points are more limited than others."

When pressed by a reporter who told him "you're probably playing a little less maybe" since joining LIV Golf this season, Hatton, who represents Jon Rahm's Legion XIII, shook his head. 

"I disagree with playing less, if I'm honest, because I think this is my 26th, it might even be my 27th event of the year," said Hatton ahead of this week's PIF Saudi International. 

"This year has been a very busy year. Yeah, since the LIV season finished, obviously I tried to play as much as I could on the DP World Tour to try and get the Ryder Cup points I need to be earning.

"Thankfully for me, I was able to win the Dunhill, which was massive and allowed me to play Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and then having ultimately two good weeks there as well."

He added: "I had incentives those weeks to earn Ryder Cup points. Sometimes having the added motivation that you know you need to play well because your opportunities are more limited is sometimes a good thing. Thankfully it worked out for me."

Hatton not only wants to perform well in the four majors next season as a result of earning significant Ryder Cup points, but also because he considers he has never really yet given himself a proper chance to win one of the big four tournaments and that disapponts him now at the age of 33. 

"In terms of am I where I want to be in my career at the moment, I'm only 33, so although this is the end of my 11th year playing at the top level of professional golf -- it sounds crazy to say that it's already been 11 years, but I would have liked to have probably done better in majors," said Hatton.

"I certainly would have liked to have contended in at least one of them. I think my best finish is probably 4th or 5th in a major. From my point of view, that's not really anything to get overly excited about.

"Maybe next year will be the year that I actually give myself a chance, but ultimately I try my best every week. Some weeks work out better than others."

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