Rory McIlroy's Tyrrell Hatton prediction as PGA Tour star signs £50m LIV deal

29 January 2024 , 18:28

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Rory McIlroy believes Tyrrell Hatton can win a major (Image: 2023 Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy believes Tyrrell Hatton is more than capable of becoming a major champion one day, having previously pledged his backing behind the Englishman.

Hatton is set to become McIlroy's latest PGA Tour ally to make the move to LIV Golf, with the Telegraph reporting on Monday that the 32-year-old has agreed a £50million deal with the breakaway league. Hatton is expected to team up with fellow European Jon Rahm ahead of LIV's opening event of the year at Mayakoba this week.

For McIlroy it will be yet another bitter pill to swallow, having previously announced himself as one of the breakaway league's biggest critics, while seeing a number of his fellow stars jump ship.

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McIlroy and Hatton have prevailed as two of Europe's biggest names in recent years, but the latter is still yet to get himself over the line in one of the sport's four majors. He has however showed his worth while competing in the DP World Tour's Rolex Series during his career.

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His latest came back in 2021, where Hatton was crowned Abu Dhabi HSBC champion in the Middle East. He prevailed in a battle with McIlroy, carding a final round six-under-par 66 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. In the aftermath the 2021 champion received the backing of his Ryder Cup teammate.

"Of course, he has what it takes to win a major," McIlroy said at the time, as per the Telegraph. "He’s proved that in this last year or so. Like all of us, he just needs it to be his big week, because he has the tools for the job both physically and mentally. It’s good news for British golf and European golf."

Hatton pipped McIlroy in Abu Dhabi in 2021 (2022 Getty Images)

In the years following it seems remarkable that Hatton has not added a win to his record since, having often found himself at the right end of leaderboards on both the DP World and PGA Tour. Looking forward however, the Englishman will now turn his attention to LIV Golf.

Hatton will become the latest big name to make the Saudi switch, with his debut coming alongside Ryder Cup partner Rahm in Mexico this week. Rahm himself will also be making his first start on the breakaway circuit, having only made the move last month.

The Masters champion became LIV's biggest coup yet and was rewarded with a record-breaking deal worth a reported £450 million. As part of his move the Spaniard has been given the chance to captain and run his own franchise, but with days until the start of the season LIV are yet to make an official announcement on Rahm's team name or roster.

Joshua Lees