“I went 3 1/2 years of not winning” – Tyrrell Hatton reflects on his Ryder Cup chances after Dubai Desert Classic win
Tyrrell Hatton reflects on his chances to play at the Ryder Cup in 2025 after winning the recently concluded Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The English golfer registered a one-shot win over Daniel Hillier in the DP World Tour event. It was his eighth win on the European Tour and the second in three months.
Prior to winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2025, Hatton won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October 2024. While Hatton won two European Tour events in just three months, before that, he had a long struggle and was winless for around three and a half years on the DP World Tour.
Before the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, he won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January 2021. As he won the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Tyrrell Hatton has a good chance to qualify for the Ryder Cup European Team.
During the press conference of the Dubai Desert Classic on January 19, Hatton reflected on his chances of playing in the Ryder Cup. He said (via ASAP Sports):
"I think the guys, Luke and Dodo and sort of the backroom staff, they kind of know what kind of golf that I can produce. Ultimately, I'm just going out there and trying my best every single week, and I'm really happy to have won again so close to the Dunhill. Because I went 3 1/2 years of not winning tournaments.
"So to win, well, basically three events in the last, what is it, seven months or so, is great for confidence and just to prove to myself that I can still get over the line. And yeah, I'm very happy with that," he added.
The Ryder Cup features two teams of 12 players, six of whom are automatic qualifiers, and the remaining six are captain’s picks. Hatton is currently ranked third in the European Ryder Cup team’s automatic qualification list and has a good chance to secure a spot on the team.
Rory McIlroy calls Tyrrell Hatton a "massive asset" for the European Ryder Cup team
Rory McIlroy also played at the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic and finished in fourth place. Following the event, he praised Hatton for his incredible victory at the event.
McIlroy called Hatton a "massive asset" for the European Team in the biennial event. He said (via golf.com):
“He’ll be amazing in New York. He’s proved that over the last three Ryder Cups. He’s a massive asset for the European team.”
Rory McIlroy currently tops the automatic qualification ranking for the European Ryder Cup team, followed by Rasmus Højgaard. The other three players in the top six are Matt Wallace, Paul Waring, and Niklas Nørgaard. The 2025 edition of the biennial tournament will take place in September in New York.