Hatton would ‘love to play’ Team Cup in Abu Dhabi

LIV Golf’s Tyrrell Hatton says he would love to play next year’s Team Cup in Abu Dhabi as the Englishman plots his difficult route to Ryder Cup qualification.

The 2021 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner is returning to DP World Tour action at this week’s British Masters, which is his first start on the circuit since moving to LIV Golf in January.

Despite racking up fines and suspensions from the DP World Tour every time he plays a LIV event, he can play at The Belfry after lodging an appeal against the sanctions imposed.

It is understood he has served the required suspensions, and payment of any fines is stayed until the outcome of his appeal.

His return to golf’s Global Circuit couldn’t have been more perfectly timed, with the qualification process for the 2025 European Ryder Cup team beginning this week.

With LIV Golf events receiving no qualification points, Hatton must make the most of his limited DP World Tour starts if he is to secure one of six automatic spots on Luke Donald’s team for Bethpage next year.

“It’s certainly one of the reasons why I wanted to play this week,” said Hatton when Ryder Cup qualification was mentioned to him.

“Ryder Cup is really important to me and I'd love to be on that team next year. This is the perfect week to try and get off to a good start.”

Hatton has already confirmed he will play more DP World Tour events in the coming months when the LIV Golf season finishes as he bids to play his way into the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship.

With his eagerness to prove to Donald that he has doing everything he can to make the European team for a fourth consecutive contest, there is also the real possibility of Hatton competing at the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi next January.

As in 2023, when it was called the Hero Cup, a Continental European and Great Britain & Ireland team will compete in a Ryder Cup warm-up style tournament.

Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari will captain each side, while the teams will comprise the leading four available Continental European and GB&I members from the final 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings, with the five remaining players on each side being selected by the respective Captains in consultation with Donald.

Hatton featured last time out for Tommy Fleetwood’s GB&I and would relish the chance to play under for Rose at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

“Yeah, I played it two years ago when it was The Hero Cup,” said Hatton.

“It was a fun week. If it's possible, I'd love to play in it next year. So, we'll see how it plays out but as I said, I'd like to be a part of it.”