\n<\/p>\n
Hatton deserves to be in the conversation when we consider contenders for this year’s four majors.<\/p>\n
They start with the Masters in April. Danny Willett (2016) and Sergio Garcia (2017) are Desert Classic winner who claimed the famous Green Jacket in the same year.<\/p>\n
Hatton, like Garcia, has often been driven to distraction by the unique ways of the Augusta National. The Englishman’s share of ninth last year was his best Masters in eight attempts.<\/p>\n
But his game should match up well because he is such a consistent and solid ball striker, who possesses a very solid short game. These attributes should put him in the major mix more often than has been the case in his career to date.<\/p>\n
Fifth at the 2016 Open is his best major result in 38 attempts but he has never been better equipped to improve that record.<\/p>\n
“I don’t treat them any differently in how I feel when I’m playing on a Thursday or Friday and into the weekend,” Hatton reflected.<\/p>\n
“You have weeks where you get on a run and you play well for a period, and for some reason, the majors haven’t fallen on the right week for me yet.<\/p>\n
“I’d love this year for one of the majors to fall on the right week. But I’ll continue to do everything I need to to feel like I’m ready to go and play well at a major, and try and get my game in as good of shape and feel as comfortable as I can.<\/p>\n
“It’s certainly not through any lack of trying. As we all know, golf is a pretty stupid game, how you can miss any amount of cuts and out of nowhere you go and win the next week. That’s all through perseverance and trying your best.”<\/p>\n
This win came against a decent field and on a testing course which offer parallels with his 2020 triumph in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, which is still his best win to date.<\/p>\n
As he says, though, this one “is right up there” among his finest career moments. It undoubtedly lays foundations for a potentially career year. “I’ve been fortunate to win some big events, and with a world-class field,” Hatton said.<\/p>\n
“The majors are just that. So if I give myself the opportunity, then of course you have to back yourself to think that you can go on and win.<\/p>\n
“And doing it on courses that are set up ridiculously hard, and even courses where the setup is a little bit more forgiving, you still have to go out there and hit the right shots and make putts.<\/p>\n
“So yeah, hopefully this year I’ll do better in the majors.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n