Tyrrell Hatton’s Incredible Back Nine at The Players Championship Nets Him Runner-up Finish and £2.26M

Tyrrell Hatton provided arguably the most impressive return of the 2021 Players Championship, posting an extraordinary 7-under 29 on the back nine in the final round to rocket up to 12-under and a runner-up finish.

The fiery Hatton could do nothing but smile after his birdie putt dropped, as he finished with five birdies to round off his extraordinary finish and tie the tournament record for low back nine score.[0] He sunk a 11-foot putt for his second longest birdie of the seven he made during the back nine, which was characterized by accuracy.[0]

Starting the day in 26th place, Hatton parred each of his first seven holes before sticking his tee shot to 6 feet at the 211-yard, par-3 eighth and sinking the putt. He returned the favor soon after, however, as he sliced his drive into the water hazard on the par-5 ninth.[1]

Hatton then birdied Nos. 14-17 without needing to hole a putt longer than 9 feet, before his closing birdie gave him his best career score in 18 Players rounds by three shots.

“Considering where I was at the start of the back nine – probably tied 34th or something like that – if you had said that you were going to finish second, I think you would definitely take that,” he said.[2]

On Sunday, Hatton's drive on the 17th hole was aimed towards the traditional back-right spot normally seen in the final round; the ball landed 3 feet away from the hole, and he was able to convert for a birdie, marking the fourth of five consecutive birdies on the closing holes.

In the present era of large prize money, coming in second place to Scottie Scheffler's dominating victory was rewarded with a whopping £2.26million.[3]

The insults he directed at himself proved effective.[1] Hatton said: “Just pretty mad two and a half hours in the end, I guess, from standing on the 10th tee.[4] So, really happy with how it's played out.[4] Yeah, good day's work.[4]

0. “Tyrrell Hatton cards first final-round, back-nine 29 at THE PLAYERS” PGA TOUR, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2023/03/12/tyrrell-hatton-cards-first-final-round-back-nine-29-at-the-players

1. “Back-nine first at TPC Sawgrass even gets Tyrrell Hatton smiling” Yahoo Sports, 12 Mar. 2023, https://sports.yahoo.com/back-nine-first-tpc-sawgrass-161344969.html

2. “Tyrell Hatton hits a record-breaking back nine at the Players Championship” Daily Mail, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-11851535/Tyrell-Hatton-hits-record-breaking-nine-Players-Championship.html

3. “Scottie Scheffler cruises to Sawgrass glory as Brit Tyrrell Hatton hits stunning 65 to scoop huge £2.3m…” The US Sun, 11 Mar. 2023, https://www.the-sun.com/sport/7614390/scottie-scheffler-tyrell-hatton-sawgrass-results/

4. “Tyrrell Hatton Earns Over $2.5m With Stunning Players Championship Back Nine” Golf Monthly, 13 Mar. 2023, https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/tyrrell-hatton-earns-over-dollar25m-with-stunning-players-championship-back-nine