Tyrrell Hatton makes clear Rory McIlroy point in criticism of The Open course

Tyrrell Hatton criticised the set-up at The Open (Image: Getty)

Tyrrell Hatton criticised the setup of the Royal Troon course following his opening round at The Open Championship on Thursday. Hatton carded a two-over-par 73 on day one, having battled in testing conditions on the west coast of Scotland.

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The Englishman was as steady as anyone on the Troon setup, parring his opening 13 holes, before two back-to-back bogeys at the 14th and 15th. Settling the ship he then parred his way back in over the last three holes to limit the damage.

Speaking in the aftermath, Hatton was left frustrated by the choice of tee boxes, which he felt made the course play much more difficult amid a swirling wind, even for some of the longest hitters including his playing partner Rory McIlroy. “There's a few holes that are just obviously playing really long,” he said post-round.

“Unfortunately, that's where it's going at the moment, where they just seem to try to make it longer to make it harder, which I think doesn't make it the most enjoyable test.” He added: “They didn't put any tees forward. You can't reach any of the par fives on the front nine.

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Tyrrell Hatton played with Rory McIlroy (Image: Getty)

“Was it 15 or 16, the par dive, you're hitting a four iron off it. Tell me a good par five where you're hitting 4-iron off the tee. There isn't one. Even though they've moved the tee back on 17, which I think is a shame, it's still with the wind today, you're hitting five iron and hoping it can stay on the green.

“Rory obviously hits it a lot higher and further, and he was hitting 7-iron there. It doesn't change the fact that it's a tough hole, and it's still hard to hit that green. I think it's a good thing that the wind was playing down because they probably would have left the tee at the back if it was into off the left.

Tyrrell Hatton expressed his frustration (Image: Getty) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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READ MORE Everything said about Rory McIlroy’s caddie Harry Diamond ahead of The Open 2024

“Then do you want to watch guys hit three wood into a green that's hard enough to hit with a seven iron?” Hatton’s opening 73 ensured he ended day one eight shots off the lead, with world No. 272 Dan Brown sat at the top following a superb six-under 65 on Open debut.

Things were much worse for McIlroy though. If he is to end his 10-year wait for a major title he will have to do it the hard way, having started his championship with a seven-over-par 77 in the opening round to leave him well off the pace.

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Tyrrell Hatton makes clear Rory McIlroy point in criticism of The Open course

Tyrrell Hatton makes clear Rory McIlroy point in criticism of The Open course

Tyrrell Hatton makes clear Rory McIlroy point in criticism of The Open course

Tyrrell Hatton makes clear Rory McIlroy point in criticism of The Open course

Tyrrell Hatton makes clear Rory McIlroy point in criticism of The Open course