Hatton Seals Maiden European Tour Title

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.

"My putting this week really helped me out," Hatton said

ST ANDREWS, 9 Oct 2016, (European Tour) - 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.

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."