Tyrrell Hatton's Masters Sunday Motivation Surprises

The English golfer's focus was on next year's Par-3 Contest, not the tournament win.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:24am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a golfer's swing and the Masters tournament grounds, rendered in bold, overlapping planes of color without any identifiable figures or text.A cubist interpretation of Tyrrell Hatton's surprising mindset during the final round of the Masters, focused more on family fun than tournament glory.Augusta Today

As Tyrrell Hatton made a late charge on Sunday at the Masters, surging into contention to potentially win the tournament, his mind was not on the coveted green jacket. Instead, the English golfer was thinking about next year's Par-3 Contest and the chance to play with his family at Augusta National.

Why it matters

Hatton's unexpected mindset during the final round of a major championship highlights how top professional golfers can maintain perspective and focus on personal milestones, even in the heat of competition for one of the sport's biggest prizes.

The details

Hatton, a 10-time PGA Tour winner, had put himself in position to potentially win his first major championship on Sunday with a string of birdies on the back nine. However, the 34-year-old said his primary focus was not on the tournament victory, but rather on the opportunity to participate in the Par-3 Contest the day before the Masters with his family.

  • Hatton made a late charge on the back nine on Sunday at the 2026 Masters.

The players

Tyrrell Hatton

A 34-year-old English professional golfer who has won 10 times on the PGA Tour.

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What they’re saying

“To be honest, most the back nine I just wanted to get to the Par-3 Contest next year and play with my family.”

— Tyrrell Hatton

The takeaway

Hatton's focus on the Par-3 Contest rather than the potential Masters victory demonstrates how top professional golfers can maintain perspective and appreciation for the traditions and personal aspects of the sport, even in the heat of major championship competition.