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Hatton secures maiden title at St Andrews
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Hatton secures maiden title at St Andrews

Tyrrell Hatton sealed his maiden European Tour title in style on Sunday, firing seven birdies and a solitary bogey to ease to a four-shot victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Tyrrell Hatton

After producing a stunning 62 to equal the course record at St Andrews on Saturday, Englishman Hatton posted a closing 66 at the Old Course to finish the week on 23 under par.

Hatton's playing partner and countryman Ross Fisher and South Africa's Richard Sterne finished in a tie for second on 19 under.

Swede Joakim Lagergren was another two strokes back after Sunday's 68, one shot ahead of Scot Marc Warren on 16 under.

Heading into the final round with a three-shot lead, Hatton got off to a strong start, rolling in his birdie putt from six feet at the third before draining a 25-foot putt at the next to pick up another shot.

The 24 year old's long-range eagle putt at the fifth narrowly missed the hole but he was able to tap in from a few feet for a birdie.

And after making pars at the next three holes, Hatton sunk his 20 foot birdie putt at the ninth to cover the front nine in 32.

Hatton moved to 22 under when he slotted in from seven feet for a birdie at the 12th and he extended his lead further with another gain at the long 14th.

A superb approach at the 15th left Hatton with a six-foot birdie putt and he converted it with ease to get to 24 under.

It feels amazing. I've wanted this moment since I was a six year old walking around Wentworth. It's incredible - ​Tyrrell Hatton

Hatton dropped his only shot of the day at the 17th after getting into bunker trouble, but he coolly sunk his par putt at the last to seal victory.

He said: "It feels amazing. I've wanted this moment since I was a six year old walking around Wentworth. It's incredible.

"I was pretty nervous all day. I started to feel a little bit more comfortable, sort of down 14, 15, but I'm just so happy I got over the line.

"I had a new putter in the bag this week and it worked really well. I'm just so happy.

"It's weird, you know, I felt a little bit uncomfortable over the ball at times but my putting this week really helped me out and that's been key to lifting the trophy this week.

"I had the target of getting inside the top 50 in the world and I think I was 53rd going into this week, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning to see where I've moved up to. But hopefully I can have a good end to the year and move up a little bit higher."

Fisher, starting his final round three shots behind Hatton, safely parred the opening five holes before rolling in his 20-foot birdie putt at the sixth to get to 15 under.

Ross Fisher

The 35 year old then notched his second birdie of the day at the seventh to reach the turn in 34.

Fisher made the perfect start to his back nine, curling in his birdie putt at the tenth before pulling off an incredible par save from around 35 feet at the 11th.

And after picking up his fourth shot of the day at the 15th, Fisher rolled in from a couple of feet for another birdie at the last to join Sterne on 19 under.

"I shot 67 and had a great birdie to finish on the last but no matter what I was going to do, Tyrrell was just too good today," said Fisher.

"In search of his first win, in the final group at the Home of Golf at St Andrews, he played flawlessly. He hit, I would say, one bad shot on 17 which cost him a five, but he was just too good today. All credit to Tyrrell on a great first win."

Sterne covered the front nine in 33 after making gains at the fourth, sixth and ninth.

The birdies kept on coming on the back nine, with Sterne picking up shots at the 11th and 14th before chipping in for another birdie at the tricky 17th on his way to a closing 66.

Sterne said: "I played nicely. I tried my best to put some pressure on Tyrrell but he got off to a good start and kept it going, which is good. It's a big win and it's going to be a special win for him here at the Old Course."

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