Dame Laura Davies believes Tyrrell Hatton has proved he is ready to go big this year following his success at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Hatton won his first Rolex Series event since 2021 after being cheeky Jedjela will defend against New Zealander Daniel Hillier in an exciting finish.
The 33-year-old is yet to seriously compete in one of four golf events but could be a factor at the Masters in April if his form continues, having also finished last season strongly on the LIV circuit to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by the third time.
“He's got his game in the right place. The next step is a major. Is he ready to win a big tournament? Absolutely,” Davies said Sky Sports Golf.
“I tell you what, Augusta National, the way he drives it, you have to think it's going to suit him because he hits it both ways if he wants to.
“The next step is a big one, there's no doubt about it, and I'm looking forward to seeing what his year turns out to be.”
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Highlights of the final round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Hatton competes in the LIV Golf League, so he will have just four majors this year to earn extra Ryder Cup qualifying points.
He hasn't lost a match in the 2023 Ryder Cup, won 3.5 points and is likely to be part of Team Europe, either as an automatic qualifier or as Luke Donald's captain.
The top six players automatically qualify for golf's prestigious team event via a single Ryder Cup points list, with points distributed throughout the season leading up to the Ryder Cup itself on September 26 and 28 in New York – Live Sky Sports.
“This event and the four events this year are big for me to try and earn as many points as possible to try to be an automatic qualifier, so it's a big step in the right direction,” Hatton said.
Davies: McIlroy is going to have a big year
Rory McIlroy ended 2024 on a high by winning the season-ending DP World Tour Championship to win the Race to Dubai and register a sixth Harry Vardon Trophy.
After a heartbreaking finish at the US Open last year, McIlroy is desperate to end his 2014 wait for a major.
On Sunday, he climbed from 12th to fourth during a dramatic final round in his first outing in 2025. He failed to win the Dubai Desert Classic for a fifth time, but Davies thinks McIlroy will take confidence from his strong finish.
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Rory McIlroy says winning the Seve Ballesteros Award is 'a really nice compliment' and shares the improvements he wants to make in 2025.
“He was rusty but he finished fourth in a really good field. People like Jon Rahm missed the cut. It was a tough test and he hasn't played in a long time and that's a nice feeling,” she said.
“When he gets back on the PGA Tour, playing regularly, week in and week out, he'll iron out those little wrinkles.
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“If his wedge game is as good as it was in Dubai at the end of last season, we know he's missing birdie putts, but he's giving himself so many chances.
“He's going to have a big year and I think Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele could have their hands full with Rory this year.”
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