Drama Kings

U.S. Open 2024: Hideki Matsuyama is jealous of this Tyrrell Hatton club-drop birdie

Hideki Matsuyama perfected the art of being disgusted with a golf shot that ends up finding the center of the green. Somehow, though, Tyrrell Hatton may have stolen Deki's crown and become king of that move.

Case in point, this shot at the par-3 17th from Hatton on Thursday at Pinehurst No. 2. The Englishman began his opening round of the 2024 U.S. Open on the back nine and was cruising along at one under through seven when, after what he must have deemed a poor strike, he let go of his club immediately after impact. It was a fling violent enough that the club bounced off the rock-hard turf and nearly hit Hatton on the way back. 

The result? A shot that ended up settling nine feet from the cup, leading to his second birdie of the day. OK then:

The majority of folks will find this funny. A typical Hatton move. A smaller minority believe this type of stuff is insufferable. To each their own. 

One thing is certain - these guys know the difference between a quality strike and a poor one, and clearly Hatton felt this was a poor one. Based off where it landed, he more than likely felt he fatted it and it was going to end up short, but he was able to get away with it. As we typed this, he just missed a short par putt and made all sorts of hand gestures at the hole. Not the type to take the good breaks with the bad, that Tyrrell.