Tyrrell Hatton forced to fly emergency caddie to Masters after freak injury scuppers plans
Tyrell Hatton will reunite with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler at this week’s Masters, but the LIV Golf star will be at Augusta without his caddie Mick Donaghy
Tyrrell Hatton will be without his caddie Mick Donaghy at Augusta National for this week’s Masters Tournament, after Donaghy fell whilst out for dinner in Miami last weekend.
Hatton – who finished in a tie for fourth at LIV Miami on Sunday – revealed: “My caddie fell over last night after dinner. Now, his reputation is an interesting one, so I don’t know how the fall really occurred, but either way, he landed pretty heavy on his shoulder.
“He spent the afternoon in hospital. He’s had an X-ray. He won’t be caddying for the next month. As far as I’m aware he’s got really bad bone bruising.
“I think that’s good that he’s not broken anything. The fall means the experienced caddie will be out of action for the opening major of the year in Georgia, with Hatton instead expected to turn to friend, and fellow player Hugo Dobson to carry the bag instead around the iconic course instead.
“I’ve got a friend on the bag. He is actually flying tomorrow now to Augusta, and he’ll do Adelaide and Singapore if we can get a visa in time for him to do Australia,” Hatton added. Dobson has caddied for Hatton in the past, and at the Masters, having worked alongside the Ryder Cup star at the 2019 edition of the event.
Hatton was not the only man forced into using a substitute caddie in Sunday’s final round at Trump Doral, as his Legion XIII teammate and captain Jon Rahm was also without his usual sidekick Adam Hayes who was absent all week on the breakaway circuit through illness.
“Tyrrell and I both had substitute caddies for different reasons,” Rahm commented.. “Luckily in my case, one of my best friends, Ben Schur, who was a teammate who caddied for me my first few starts on Tour before I found Adam, was here. Even though it was a little different, it was a familiar face to be with and somebody I’m comfortable with to talk around.
“Obviously I feel bad for Adam. Hopefully he gets better soon, which he will. It takes a lot for him not to caddie. Let’s just say that.” Rahm heads to Augusta this week as defending champion, after the Spaniard tipped fellow LIV star Brooks Koepka to the iconic green jacket last April.
Like Hatton he also makes his return to Augusta on the back of an impressive performance, after the two-time major champion finished in a tie for fourth alongside his teammate. It proved to a succesful week for the Legion XIII setup, as Rahm’s team secured their second victory of the campaign in Miami.
LIV’s latest franchise pipped the RangeGoats by a single shot on Sunday, to move into second in the season-long team standings, 26 points behind defending champions Crushers GC, who also have two victories to their name in 2024.
