Tyrrell Hatton turned in a solid performance at Augusta National this year, finishing in a tie for 9th after shooting a 3-under 69 in his final round.
But that did not stop him from holding back his feelings towards the par-5 15th hole, which measures 550 yards.
“I was trying not to think of 15 until I got there. That hole lives rent-free in my head. I hate it. I absolutely hate it,” Hatton said Sunday.
“I think it hates me with the scores that I end up producing on it. Again, I’ve played that hole in 4-over this week.”
The Englishman did manage to make a par there on Sunday, but he could not get anything else going before that.
Early Friday morning, during the continuation of the first round, Hatton chunked his third shot into the pond in front of the green. At the time, Hatton was at 3-under par, but his mistake led to a double bogey, dropping him back to 1-under.
Later in the day, for his second round, Hatton made a bogey, thanks to a three-putt from about 15 feet. When he walked off the green, he sat at 2-over par.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25395262/2148437464.jpg)
Then, on Saturday, Hatton airmailed the green with his second shot. His ball bounced all the way over the green and rolled into the pond that sits on the 16th hole. Another bogey then followed.
Hatton also struggled on the 18th hole, making two bogies and a double-bogey over the course of the week.
“Yeah, 15 and 18, I’m 8-over for the tournament. You take them out, and it shows that I’ve played some really good golf. Can’t do anything about it now,” Hatton said.
“I don’t think there’s another golf course in the world that I’ll play 25 times and only shoot in the 60s twice. It’s a really hard golf course, one that I’ve always really struggled on.”
Hatton’s final round 69 marked only the second time he broke 70 at Augusta National during his career. But if not for the 15th and 18th holes, he could have shot in the 60s during all four rounds, and perhaps contend against Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, and Max Homa.
Maybe next year, Hatton will play these two holes better and turn his Masters fortunes for the better.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
