Tyrrell Hatton makes big world ranking move after drifting following LIV Golf switch

Tyrrell Hatton has bounced back into the top-20 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), after his ranking slipped following his transition to LIV Golf.

Earlier this year, Hatton followed in the footsteps of his Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm by making the switch to join Legion XIII in Saudi Arabia. Despite a successful start on the LIV circuit, including a win and a fourth-place finish in the season-long standings, his world ranking suffered.

Since its inception in June 2022, the breakaway league has been hosting events without offering world ranking points, having had applications to the OWGR rejected due to its format.

This has resulted in many LIV stars, including Hatton, sliding down the rankings. In recent months, the former world No.5 was at risk of losing his spot in the top-50, but his return to the DP World Tour in recent weeks has been beneficial.

Hatton began the month ranked 38th in the world, but his third victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday at St Andrews propelled him into 20th place. While the legitimacy of the OWGR list has been questioned by many due to its exclusion of LIV, it remains crucial for those wanting to compete in the four majors, especially Hatton.

Snagging a top-10 finish at the Masters this year, the English golfer has guaranteed his spot at Augusta National come 2025. To tee off at The Open Championship and U.S. Open though, he'll need to land in the top-50 and top-60 respectively by each tournament's cutoff.

His recent triumph on Scottish turf was a massive stride towards being on the favorable side of the cutline when next summer rolls around, but securing that spot will likely require successes beyond those offered by LIV Golf. His win at the Dunhill Links becomes even more significant because of this.

Indeed, conquering the Home of Golf did more than just bring glory; it punched his ticket to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship in November, both premier events of the DP World Tour calendar. These victories not only enhance his world ranking points but also bolster his odds for joining next year's Ryder Cup squad.

Post-victory last weekend, he reflected on the importance of his return to form: "I knew when I came back to play the British Masters and the Spanish Open last week, that I really wanted to earn enough points to be able to play in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from a World Ranking points perspective and a Ryder Cup points perspective," he revealed, now a champion with a plan.