Tyrrell Hatton wins Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by four shots
Monday 10 October 2016 10:15, UK
Tyrrell Hatton cruised to a maiden European Tour title with a convincing victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The 24-year-old followed his course-record equalling 62 on Saturday with a six-under 66 on the Old Course at St Andrews in the final round to finish four strokes clear of Richard Sterne and Ross Fisher.
Holding a three-shot overnight lead, Hatton fired a hat-trick of birdies from the third and rolled in a 15-footer at the ninth to extend his advantage to five strokes.
Fisher cut the gap to four with a four-foot gain at the 10th and Sterne also edged closer with a birdie-two at the 11th, only for Hatton to hole a 10-foot birdie at the 12th to restore his cushion.
Back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th temporarily increased Hatton's lead to six, before the world No 53 sent his approach at the 17th in to the Road Hole bunker to card a first blemish in 41 holes.
Hatton went on to par the last to reach 23 under par and match the tournament record of lowest 72-hole score held by David Howell and Peter Uihlein.
It didn't feel that way inside," Hatton added on Sky Sports. "I was pretty nervous all day. I started to feel a little bit more comfortable down 14, 15 and was just so happy I got over the line.
"I had a new putter in the bag this week and it worked really well. I'm just so happy. It's the British Masters next week and I'm looking forward to that.
"We'll have a good evening tonight and hopefully I can have a good end to the year as well."
Sterne looked set to claim second outright after he signed off a bogey-free 66 with a chip-in birdie from off the 17th green, only for Fisher to pick up a shot at the last to also get to 19 under par.
A final-hole birdie completed a blemish-free 67 to lift Marc Warren in to fifth spot ahead of Martin Kaymer, with Bernd Wiesberger and Soren Kjeldsen ending the week inside the top 10.
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