Tyrrell Hatton wary of Yas Links test ahead of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship defence

Holder downbeat despite fine record around links courses in the past

Tyrrell Hatton has played down his chances of retaining the title at the 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Getty Images

Arriving in Abu Dhabi as the defending champion, to play a type of golf at which - history suggests - he is expert, you might expect Tyrrell Hatton to be full of the joys of spring.

Characteristically, though, the world No 22 struck a more cautiously downbeat tone on the eve of the 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The move 16km from the National Course to Yas Links, where the tournament will be played for the first time this week, means a step into the unknown for all involved.

Switching from parkland to linksland golf will pose new challenges, ones which it might be assumed Hatton would be well-placed to meet.

Hatton’s first two Tour wins came at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, in 2016 and 2017. Even during the midst of a slump in form which saw him miss five cuts in the space of 10 starts last season, he managed a tie for second around the links courses of golf’s Scottish heartland.

The 30-year-old Englishman remained circumspect, though, ahead of Thursday’s opening day.

“I think it would be nice to be defending the tournament at the course that you won it at,” Hatton said. “This week is a new course for everyone, so it's hard to know what the rough winning score generally is.

“I know we've got a lot of wind forecast for Friday and that's going to obviously be a challenging day for everyone. But we'll go out there, we'll give it our best and see what happens.”

Hatton said his past results around links courses will count for little at Yas.

“I kind of struggle when we come to different places where they are not generally designed on having, or not meant to have links courses, so, in my opinion, I don't think they look right,” he said.

“You can't enjoy every golf course you play. But that being said, you still have to go out there and hit the shots.”

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  Defending Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Tyrrell Hatton of England is flanked by Tommy Fleetwood of England, left, and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland. Getty Images

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  Rory McIlroy inspects the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship trophy, held by last year's winner Tyrrell Hatton. Getty Images

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  Tyrrell Hatton of England, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Collin Morikawa of the USA and Adam Scott of Australia pose for a photo prior to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links Golf Course on January 18, 2022 in Abu Dhabi. Getty Images

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  Viktor Hovland of Norway. Getty Images

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  Shane Lowry of Ireland looks on as he poses for a photo. Getty Images

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  From left: Shane Lowry of Ireland, Viktor Hovland of Norway, Tommy Fleetwood of England, Tyrrell Hatton of England, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Collin Morikawa of the USA, Adam Scott of Australia and Lee Westwood of England pose for a photo during a practice round prior to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links Golf Course. Getty Images

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  ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 18: A general view of the driving range as Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal plays a shot during a practice round prior to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links Golf Course on January 18, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew Redington / Getty Images)

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  A view of the 18th green at Yas Links Golf Course in Abu Dhabi. Getty Images

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  Tommy Fleetwood of England is interviewed by Iain Carter, BBC golf correspondent. Getty Images

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  Collin Morikawa of the USA talks to the media during a virtual press conference. Getty Images

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  General View of the 18th green at Yas Links Golf Course. Getty Images

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  Connor Syme of Scotland plays a chip shot onto the third green. Getty Images

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  From left: Viktor Hovland of Norway, Shane Lowry of Ireland, Tommy Fleetwood of England, Tyrrell Hatton of England, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Collin Morikawa of the USA, Adam Scott of Australia and Lee Westwood of England pose for a photo. Getty Images

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  Joachim B. Hansen of Denmark plays a bunker shot on the third hole during a practice round prior to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links Golf Course. Getty Images

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  Joost Luiten of the Netherlands putts on the 16th green. Getty Images

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  James Morrison of England plays a shot on the seventh hole. Getty Images

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  Maximilian Kiefer of Germany plays a shot on the seventh hole. Getty Images

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  Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain plays a bunker shot onto the second green during a practice round at Yas Links Golf Course. Getty Images

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  Daniel van Tonder of South Africa putts on the eighth green. Getty Images

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  A general view of the 18th green. Getty Images

Hatton, who will start at the 10th tee at 7.30am on Thursday alongside Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, acknowledged he has been struggling for motivation of late.

“My dad would say that I found [practice] a chore,” Hatton said. “I remember the winters when I was probably like 10 years old, and Dad [would say] ‘Come on, let's go to the range.’

“Don't want to go. Sort of happy being inside or trying to play football all weekend at that stage.

“Some guys obviously really enjoy their practice. They have got a good routine in that sense and they do games and stuff to try to keep it interesting.

“But I've always really struggled with that kind of thing. I definitely don't switch on to it, so I'm not really that focused whilst I'm there. It can be a little bit of a waste of time.”