Hatton dismisses LIV tension with McIlroy as talk in Dubai focuses on wines not fines

"McIlroy used pre-tournament media duties at the Dubai Desert Classic to assert that Hatton and Jon Rahm should settle their seven-figure penalties due to the European Tour Group for their participation in LIV Golf. McIlroy's sentiment felt especially notable because he was to spend the opening two rounds at the Emirates Club in Hatton's company. Yet there appeared no ill feeling whatsoever between the Ryder Cup teammates; as evident on the course and by what Hatton said later."

"We didn't really talk about that, Hatton said. It was me mainly asking if he had any good wine over Christmas. It was better than the wine I was drinking but my wine was very nice, too. And then he was horrified to hear what weight I was on 1 January. The answer to that is 204lbs. Which at 5ft 8in is aggressive, Hatton said. Just before the Ryder Cup, I was 190lbs. So what's that, another stone I'd put on."

"Hatton's two under par 70 was hugely impressive given the level of rust visible in his game. The finest indicators of how good the world's best golfers really are arrive when they can posts rounds such as this when so far from their optimum level. I was turning like the Titanic out there, he said. I can't move, I still feel pretty stiff. This still feels early for me."

Rory McIlroy urged Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm to settle seven-figure penalties owed to the European Tour Group for joining LIV Golf. McIlroy was scheduled to play the opening two rounds at the Emirates Club alongside Hatton. No ill feeling was evident between the teammates on the course. Hatton described a convivial exchange about wine and admitted gaining weight over December, reaching 204lbs while enjoying zero cardio and heavy drinking, including a Guinness tap at home. Hatton said he did not want a falling-out and hoped the situation would be sorted. He shot a two-under 70 despite feeling stiff and rusty, while McIlroy carded 73.

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