Horses for courses is a phrase that, like many in the English language (first past the post, dark horse, home stretch, win hands down and many more), has its origins in horse racing. It is now very much a part of everyday usage and is also applied widely across a range of sports. In football we might use the phrase in relation to, for example, playing two holding midfielders, rather than one, against a top-class side. In cricket it could refer to fielding extra spin bowlers on the sub-continent, whilst in Formula 1 it might explain the way in which a certain driver does especially well at a particular track.
That latter deployment is closest to the idiom’s origin, but it can also be very accurately used in golf. Courses differ greatly in style, length and the attributes required to best play them. Some may favour very accurate drivers, others brilliant putters, whilst some may favour players moving the ball left to right, or vice versa. These are just some of the factors that explain why certain players tend to do especially well, or badly, at certain golf courses, tournaments, or types of golf courses.
We could put this aspect of the game under “horses for courses” but in golf, it is generally referred to as course form. For those betting on the game, this can be one of the biggest factors that influences who they back. And if you are looking for a pick for the Dunhill Links, or indeed a tournament at any of the courses it uses (or even just any links event), then Tyrell Hatton might be the man for you.
Photo credit: Jacob Gralton, flickr
Hatton Claims Record Third Win
Last Sunday, Hatton, from High Wycombe, survived a double bogey on the 13th and a bogey on the 14th to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews. This unique and lucrative event is contested as a pro-am and uses three of the best golf courses in Scotland: St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
All three have hosted the Open – even if Kingsbarns has only hosted the 2017 Women’s British Open – with St Andrews and Carnoustie key parts of the Open Championship rotation. The weekend of this tournament sees the action move to the home of golf and Hatton is certainly a fan of the iconic Scottish course.
He shot a course record (equalling) score of 61 on Saturday to thrust himself into the lead, firing home nine birdies and an eagle on the famous Old Course. That took him to 22 under par, one clear of Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts. On Sunday he seemed to be breezing to glory, with four birdies in his first 11 holes moving him into a three-shot lead. After his stumble, Colsaerts drew level with Hatton, but the Englishman managed to birdie the last and hold on for a one-shot victory.
He was playing alongside his father which made it even more special and emotional. The Hattons finished second in the pairs event on what was a memorable occasion for the family. For the new world number 20, it was his third success in this event, a tally no other player has reached. In fact, only one other player has won this event more than once, with Padraig Harrington doing so in 2002 and 2006. As such, the Englishman’s record of three wins – which he could well extend in the years ahead – is likely to last for some time.
Hatton clearly loves the three courses used for this competition and finished tied 11th at the 2022 Open Championship which was played at St Andrews. That is his third-best finish at his home major, whilst his fifth-best performance in the Open Championship came in 2018 at Carnoustie.
His incredible score of 24 under, 264, was a joint tournament record, tying the score he made back in 2017. That year he was defending his crown too, having also won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2016, with another incredible score, this time a shot worse and “only” 23 under par.
First European Tour Win
Hatton actually won the first big tournament of his career over the Fife area’s three brilliant courses. In 2016, when he was just 24 years old, he announced himself in style by winning this event, which is one of the bigger tournaments on the tour. He shot a 62 on the Saturday back then too, which at the time equalled the course record at St Andrews.
His win in 2016 was rather more comfortable though as a final round 66 gave him a margin of four shots and a relatively stress-free Sunday at a course we can now call his office. Hatton’s career had been going along steadily but this was easily his best week on the tour and the win saw him leap into the top 35 in the world rankings and earn a spot at the following year’s US Masters. He had done well at this year’s Open, and also at the US PGA Championship, so his game and career were very much on the up – or so it seemed.
Doubling Up in 2017
Despite appearing to be very much on an upward trajectory, 2017 was, on the whole, not a great one for the Buckinghamshire boy. He would play at all four majors for the first time in his career but failed to see the weekend at any of them. He played poorly during the summer but sparked into life at his favourite stomping ground.
He played superbly over all four days to shoot what was then a sole record for the tournament’s 72 holes (68-65-65-66, a total of 264). He became the first player to defend his title and remains the only one to do so. He won by three shots from compatriot Ross Fisher, the win moving him up to 22nd in the world rankings. Fisher did almost everything he could on the Sunday, shooting a new course record of 61 (tied by Hatton in 2024) but it was not nearly enough, as Hatton’s 66 saw him home with room to spare.