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They say The Masters doesn’t begin until the back nine on Sunday.

By extension, The Open doesn’t begin until Tyrrell Hatton breaks a club, is caught swearing by on-course microphones and gives a middle-finger salute.

To that end, the 149th edition of golf’s oldest major got underway some time on Friday afternoon.

Hatton’s miserable form in the championship continued at Royal St George’s, rounds of 72 and 70 condemning him to a sixth missed cut in nine appearances.

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The 29-year-old’s frustrations boiled over on several occasions, most notably the final hole where he killed a wedge in a fit of fury, shortly after TV commentators had to apologise for microphones capturing him saying “f****** b******s”.

This, of course, didn’t go over well with armchair supporters who took to social media to share their disgust at the world No.10’s behaviour.

Here’s a flavour of the reactions…

Not everybody was appalled by Hatton’s behaviour, though. Some Twitter users, in fact, leapt to his defence.

Enter the 150th Open Ticket Ballot

A ticket ballot for The 150th Open – taking place in St Andrews in 2022 – is now open. Click here to register your interest in being part of golf history.


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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