Tyrrell Hatton reveals Rory McIlroy was “horrified” to learn he has added a stone sinking Guinness and wine before his title defence at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic
LIV Golf’s Tyrrell Hatton added a stone of weight drinking wine and Guinness over Christmas
Tyrrell Hatton revealed he outscored a “horrified” Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Desert Classic after piling on a stone sinking wine and Guinness over Christmas. And LIV Golf star claimed he was “turning like the Titanic” during an opening round 70 in defence of his title in “damp January”.
The Masters champion had told his Ryder Cup team-mate to pay the fines for playing on the Saudi-backed tour to stay eligible for Europe in his pre-tournament press conference.
But Hatton revealed all they had discussed during their 18 holes together was the “good wine” they had imbibed during the holiday period.
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“And then he was horrified to hear what weight I was on January 1st,” laughed the world No.21..
“I was 204 pounds (14st 6lbs), which at 5’8” is aggressive. Just before the Ryder Cup, I was like 190 (13st 6 lbs). So what’s that, another stone I’d put on.
“Yeah, I enjoyed my December. I did do some training. Zero cardio and a lot of drinking. So, yeah, I had a Guinness tap in the house, which was enjoyable.
“And so now time to lose a little bit of weight. I am doing damp January. December was aggressive. I did do dry January last year but I felt like I’d just do damp January this year. So I’ll allow myself to have a few. I can be good if I want to be. It’s just most of the time, I just want to enjoy myself. So that’s what I do. Now it’s the gym and avoiding alcohol, I would imagine, to lose a little bit of weight. Sad times.”
Hatton has a history of enjoying a tipple. He enjoyed “two to three” Guinnesses a night during his Open challenge at Royal Portrush last summer – and then woke up in his own vomit after his “messy” celebration when he qualified for the Ryder Cup.
His lack of conditioning – the LIV Golf tour only starts on February 4 – did not stop Hatton carding four birdies and two bogeys on a blustery day in his first competitive round of 2026. He was five shots off the clubhouse lead held by Ryder Cup vice-captain Francesco Molinari (65).
But Hatton said: “It wasn’t pretty. “I was turning like the Titanic! Can’t move. I still feel pretty stiff. I guess it’s the fifth time I’ve been on a golf course since the Saudi International (in November).
“The backswing isn’t too much of a problem although when I did start, I felt like my backswing was shorter than Jon’s, which is not ideal. Yeah, he’s a bit stronger than me, so he can generate a bit more clubhead speed. Yeah, it still feels early for me. I feel rusty. But I’m just trying my best to play as well as I can.”
McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood both shot 73s in the same group as Hatton – and did not discuss the fines imposed by the DP World Tour for playing conficting LIV Golf results.
“I don’t think we need to talk about that. We’re out there to focus on trying to play good golf and that was pretty hard to do this morning in the conditions that we played in. I ended up seeing what was said. And he said that’s his opinion. So everyone’s allowed an opinion. I’ve got nothing more to add to that.”
Poland’s Adrian Meronk is in the same limbo as Hatton and Jon Rahm over the fines which the LIV Golf stars are refusing to pay.
I don’t think it’s fair that we are getting fined to play somewhere else,” said Meronk. “That’s why there’s so much discussion about it and that’s why the players are not happy with the fines. We are aware of them but we are not happy with them. I think there should be some kind of agreement between those two tours or three tours, I guess.”
