Tyrrell Hatton has survived a five-way playoff to win the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya, outlasting the long-time leader in the event, Matthias Schwab, with a birdie at the 4th extra hole to Schwab’s bogey securing the title for the 28-year old Englishman.
It was Hatton’s 4th European Tour title and the US$2 million winner’s cheque moves him to 6th in the Race to Dubai rankings for 2019.
The event was completed under floodlights given the extended playoff.
“It’s so surreal. I mean, I actually can’t believe that I’ve won,” said Hatton. “It’s been quite a difficult year in terms of things happening off course, and you know, the last month, I feel like I really found my game again.
“I said to a few people on my team that if I was lucky enough to win again, then I would definitely savour the moment, because I think it’s quite easy to take it for granted.
And you know, sport’s great when it’s going well, but when it’s not going well, it kind of hits home, so I’m absolutely thrilled. Obviously amazing to have Mick on the bag and he’s done a great job this week. I’m just so happy.
“You don’t think about the money, at all. It’s all pride. And yeah, obviously it’s a bonus at the end of it after a great week, and I’m just so happy, I don’t know what else to say.”
Jason Scrivener finished as the leading Australian in 21st place, a position he shared with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.
Scrivener improved two places to 59th on the Race to Dubai raking but needs to be inside the top 50 by the completion of this coming week’s event in South Africa if he is to force his way into the field for Dubai in two weeks’ time.
Scott Hend 36th and Wade Ormsby 38th were the other Australians in the field.
