Tyrrell Hatton: The inside story of how Jon Rahm's influence, a coin toss and Ryder Cup fears led British golf star to LIV Golf

Less than six months after partnering up to devastating effect at the 2023 Ryder Cup, it was confirmed Hatton would be joining Jon Rahm's Legion XIII on the LIV circuit

British golf star Tyrrell Hatton shocked the world when he announced he'd be joining LIV in early 2024 - but it wasn't a decision that came easily. The former world No. 5 and two-time Ryder Cup winner has been an almost constant feature at the business end of most majors in recent years.

Hatton, 32, has made the cut in 22 of his 27 appearances in golf's Big Four since the start of 2018 and registered a top-10 finish in six of those. However, the Buckinghamshire native knew he'd be open to the same scrutiny most dissidents have been faced with when turning their backs on the PGA and European Tours.

The emergence of LIV Golf caused shockwaves when it first sprouted in 2022, though the vitriol had perhaps lessened somewhat by the time Hatton joined as part of its third influx earlier this year. That's not to say the choice to cut his ties in favor of an eight-figure payday came easily, though Hatton had help from people in high places.

Here, Mirror Sport takes a look through his LIV journey, the steps that brought him into the Saudi-funded fold and how he's faring on the breakaway tour as the LIV Golf League returns to London on Friday.

Jon Rahm influence Less than six months after partnering up to devastating effect at the 2023 Ryder Cup, it was confirmed Hatton would be joining Jon Rahm's Legion XIII on the LIV circuit. In some ways, Rahm's reported £450 million switch to LIV took the heat off Hatton's own decision, having allegedly made the move for a far more modest - but by no means insignificant - £50m fee.

"We obviously get on very well and we had a good record in Rome," Hatton told BBC Sport earlier this year when he was still settling into his new surroundings. He and Rahm went undefeated as a pairing in Rome last autumn, and it was that group aspect of LIV that he said played a key role in his decision.

"I like that idea of being part of a team," he added. "I like the schedule and not in the sense of playing less. That's not my goal whatsoever. I like the fact that we're going to different places around the world."

"Nervous" confessions Golf's civil war has sewn division between peers, driving those who once called each other comrades and friends apart. Despite the dust having settled somewhat compared to the earliest days of LIV, the timing of Hatton's departure was complicated given it was only a few months prior that he and his fellow Europeans celebrated one of the biggest results of their careers.

And it was confessing the new reality to his fellow Ryder Cup champions that frightened the Briton. However, he said their response on the whole was very uplifting.

“In some ways, you’re always a bit nervous coming back [for The Masters], but yeah, I think when I messaged the group chat, to the Ryder Cup chat to tell the lads that I was going, I was nervous sending the message," he said during an appearance on the Fairway to Heaven podcast in March. "Obviously, I was nervous joining LIV, as well.

“But the messages that I got back were like really positive and made me feel at ease. As I said, it’s been great to see those guys this week."

The £50m coin toss It was only at the 11th hour that Hatton revealed his LIV fate in February when he faced the decision of playing in a PGA Tour event at Pebble Beach or the LIV opener in Mayakoba, Mexico. Even his caddie, Mick Donaghy, was in the dark at the airport, waiting to discover which plane he'd be boarding ahead of a weekend's competition.

And it wasn't a decision to be taken lightly given the reported £50m offer on the table. Hatton consulted with friends, family and peers before wishing "someone else would make the decision" for him - and he ultimately let chance play a role.

"I had a deadline of 7:30pm on the Sunday night," he told Fairway to Heaven. "With the help of a coin toss, I signed the contract at 7:29. It was a really hard decision and one that I didn't take lightly. I spoke to a lot of people and, yeah, so we signed at 7.29pm."

LIV form so far Despite his star profile, Hatton hardly took to LIV like a duck to water after finishes of eighth, 12th, 15th and 21st in his first four tournaments. He's since found his groove on the rebel tour, however, and registered his maiden LIV win during the Nashville stop earlier in July.

That's in addition to a third-place

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