Tyrrell Hatton Rises in Contention at The Masters

Tyrrell Hatton has positioned himself as a contender at the 2026 Masters following a dominant second-round performance on April 10, 2026. The Englishman shot a 6-under-par 66 at Augusta National, marking his lowest-ever round at the venue.

Hatton finished the first two rounds with a total score of 140, placing him at 4 under par. This performance moved him into a tie for seventh place, securing him a late tee time for the third round on April 11, 2026.

A Rare Tee-to-Green Display

The second round was defined by a nearly flawless approach game. Hatton hit all 18 greens in regulation, a feat achieved by only two other players in the last 30 years: Jim Furyk in 2009 and Kevin Na in 2020.

His precision with irons and wedges eliminated the need for long putts, creating numerous birdie opportunities. Notable highlights included back-to-back birdies on the par-5 second and par-4 third, as well as a birdie on the par-4 seventh following an approach to 8 feet.

Hatton continued his momentum on the back nine, hitting a tee shot to 8 feet on the 155-yard par-3 12th and nearly holing his third shot for an eagle on the par-5 15th, which resulted in a tap-in birdie.

Overcoming Early Struggles

The surge on April 10 followed a difficult opening round where Hatton shot a 74. The contrast in performance was stark, moving from a state he described as headless to being fully dialled in.

Hatton detailed a specific moment of frustration during the first round on the seventh hole. He noted that his approach shot hit the flagstick and bounced back into a bunker, leaving him in a semi-buried position.

I was absolutely headless on 7 yesterday, because I had gone from essentially having a very good birdie opportunity to not only has it gone back in the bunker at speed, it’s gone onto the flat, and then it’s semi-buried itself. I was, like, sick, I’ve got no chance. Not good.

Tyrrell Hatton

Despite the turnaround, Hatton’s round ended with a characteristic moment of angst. He three-putted the 18th hole for a bogey, the only blemish on an otherwise perfect scorecard.

Historical Context and Outlook

Augusta National has historically been a source of frustration for Hatton, who has previously described the course as unfair at times and argued that quality shots are not always rewarded. Prior to this 66, his personal best at the course was a 68 recorded during the final round in 2021.

Hatton has shown steady improvement in recent years at the Masters, tying for 14th in 2025 and tying for ninth in 2024. His current form and position in the standings suggest a significant opportunity to improve those finishes.

Reflecting on his 6-under-par round, Hatton admitted that while the three-putt on the final hole was disappointing, he would have accepted the score before starting the day.

Today was a great day. Actually walking up 18, I was pretty confident that I couldn’t mess it up enough that I wouldn’t shoot my best score here. Naturally I tried with a three-putt, so that was disappointing to say the least. But yeah, I certainly wouldn’t have taken 6-under before I went out.

Tyrrell Hatton