Top pundit says ‘unnecessary’ behaviour holding Tyrrell Hatton back

A total of 15 LIV golfers will be at Valhalla Golf Club this week, as the PGA Championship takes centre stage in Louisville, Kentucky.

Brooks Koepka leads the charge from the Greg Norman-fronted tour and arrives on the back of a win at LIV Golf Singapore over a week ago.

The American is in town to defend his crown after lifting the Wanamaker for a third time last year.

Phil Mickelson and Martin Kaymer return to the event as past winners, whilst six of the breakaway stars were handed invites from the PGA of America.

Meanwhile, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson earned their spot in the field courtesy of major wins in recent years.

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But one LIV golfer got in through his place in the Official World Golf Ranking, and despite ‘being one of the best players in the world’, has been warned about his behaviour.

Sky Sports commentator Ewen Murray says he is ‘saddened’ at that thought, given how much talent is on the table.

The man referred to is Tyrrell Hatton, and Murray even claimed the ‘unnecessary’ antics are holding the Englishman back.

“I think Tyrrell is one of the best players in the world,” Murray told Express Sport ahead of the second major of the year.

“There’s a player there that has no weaknesses golf-wise. But I don’t know if we’re ever going to see how good Tyrrell can be because he gets in his own way.”

The 32-year-old, who is a PGA Tour winner, Ryder Cup winner and six-time DP World Tour winner, has had similar criticism levelled towards him previously.

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But missing from his CV is a major championship, and as he prepares to tee it up for a tenth time at the PGA Championship, Murray expressed major concerns.

“I don’t think you can perform at the very top level and be as volatile as he can be at times,” the Scot said.

“I’m just saddened that he has weaknesses in other departments. People start talking about it, it starts going on the Internet, the social media platforms, and I just don’t think you need that.

“I know that sometimes if you change the person, you also change the golfer. I just think that what he does, none of it is necessary.

“If Tyrrell could take all that stuff away and say, ‘Right, I’m here to play golf’, he’s a match for anyone.

“He’s got the whole package apart from the other stuff that is holding him back.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.