After months of speculation, Englishman Tyrell Hatton has finally signed a contract.
He will join Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf Team, Region XIII, and will make his debut on the Saudi-backed circuit at the season-opening event in Mexico later this week. Hatton’s contract with LIV is worth $63 million, according to James Corrigan. telegraph paper.
His signing comes days after LIV Golf poached Adrian Mellonk, who recently finished second to Rory McIlroy at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Hatton also competed in this event and finished in 31st place.
Hutton has had a busy month. He continued to negotiate with LIV Golf and traveled the world from Hawaii to Dubai in search of playing opportunities. Before playing in the United Arab Emirates, Hatton tied for 14th at The Sentry on the PGA Tour and finished 13th at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
The 32-year-old will still compete in this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the second signature event of the 2024 PGA Tour season, but is expected to withdraw and play instead in Mayakoba, Mexico.
This could allow him to reinvigorate his Ryder Cup partnership with Rahm in Legion XIII. Rahm and Hatton posted a 2-0-0 record this fall and combined for 7.5 points for Team Europe overall. Their friendship, passion, and fiery attitude helped give Europe the momentum it needed to defeat America.
Nevertheless, this past Ryder Cup, LIV golfers were banned from joining European teams by the DP World Tour.
With Hatton and Rahm playing in the LIV, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald must be concerned about how his team looks at Bethpage Black in 2025. If the current rules remain in place, Hatton and the other LIV Golf defectors will be suspended and will be fine from the DP World Tour after each LIV event. Additionally, he will not be able to meet the condition of participating in at least four DP World Tour tournaments, which will jeopardize his chances of participating in 2025.
But Donald believes those rules will change, especially as negotiations between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf’s beneficiary, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, progress towards an agreement.
Hatton must feel the same way. He initially received an offer from LIV last month, but he turned it down as he had concerns about his future in the Ryder Cup and his place in the major championships. Still, Rahm called Hatton and he assured LIV he was the right choice to join Golf.
Mr Hutton subsequently received improved communication.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
