The Open star screams 'f*** you' down mic as broadcaster forced to apologise

Tyrrell Hatton’s feelings about The Open Championship this week were summed up on the 16th hole yesterday as he screamed an expletive that left one television commentator apologising to viewers. The LIV Golf rebel was struggling at six over par, but still on the brink of making the cut as he played his 282 yard approach into the par-five 16th.

Immediately, he appeared to push his shot out to the right, but his ball still seemed to be landing in a favourable position to chip onto the green.

However, a combination of the strong winds and a wicked kick off the fairway meant he ended up in heavy rough, and the frustration was palpable.

“F**k you” he screamed, at a volume that could clearly have been hear by spectators in the grandstands. The audio was also picked up by the the television cameras, with one pundit swiftly telling viewers: “Well we apologise for that.”

After the outburst, one fan was clearly heard trying to gee up the Englishman, shouting "Come on Tyrrell" as he made his way towards the rough. Despite his defection from the PGA Tour, the 32-year-old remains a popular figure on European soil after his role in the 2023 Ryder Cup win. 

But Hatton’s mood scarcely lightened from there. He went on to bogey the hole, before a par on the 17th left him with a fighting chance of being there for the weekend as he headed down the last.

However, a further saw him finish at at eight over par and confirmed an early exit. Joining him was playing partner Rory McIlroy, whose struggles were summed up by accidentally hitting himself in the face with his own club after a poor tee shot on the penultimate hole.

Hatton only begun the second day two over par, but then produced a round that yielded three birdies, two double bogeys, and five bogeys. And his early exit came just 24 hours after he was scathingly critical of the famous links course, arguing organisers had made things too difficult for the players.

There’s a few holes that are just obviously playing really long,” he said. “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.”

Hatton’s erratic display came in front of European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. Along with Jon Rahm, the star has been involved in ongoing talks with the DP World Tour over his eligibility for selection in Bethpage next year.

Donald himself has stated his desire to have the pair available as Europe bid for a first win on US soil since 2012. However, he also insisted he had not been privy to discussions, insisting his job was not about the “politics” of the LIV Golf saga.