Charley Hull is back on the course this week at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, marking her first tournament since the frightening fainting episode that forced her to withdraw from the Amundi Evian Championship two weeks ago. Hull’s recent health scare unfolded during the LPGA major when she collapsed twice early in her opening round in France, prompting medical intervention.
Hull Describes Physical Struggles Leading Up to the Incident
While practicing and competing at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland, Hull shared her detailed account of the exhausting symptoms she endured before fainting on the golf course. She recounted feeling severely unwell starting Monday, experiencing continuous vomiting after flying home from Ireland.
“I was feeling really rough on the Monday and I was being sick all day because I flew home after Ireland. And then Tuesday I woke up and I still wasn’t feeling very well. I had a practice round and I was just so tired. All my bones was aching in my body, and I had a really high temperature,”
Hull explained.
Despite her condition, Hull pushed through the pro-am event the following day, determined not to disappoint her team, although she continued to feel extreme fatigue and aching all over. By Thursday morning, her symptoms worsened; she experienced dizziness, cold sweats, and an overall lack of energy.
The Moment Hull Collapsed Twice During Her Round
Hull managed to complete roughly 12 holes while playing solidly, but during the back nine, her health rapidly deteriorated. She recalled the terrifying sensations moments before fainting for the first time.
“I was in the bunker hitting a fairway shot and I had to sit down for a minute because my eyesight went and my hearing went — and I don’t know if anyone has ever fainted before, but your eyesight goes and then your hearing goes, and then it goes all muffled,”
she said.
After briefly recovering enough to hit the bunker shot—nearly making a birdie—Hull proceeded to the next tee and called for medical help. However, before she could tee off, the symptoms returned more severely, causing her knees to give way and leading to a faint.
Even after the collapse, Hull attempted to continue, hitting her tee shot while feeling she needed to finish strong despite her weakening state. However, very shortly afterward, she lost consciousness again, fainting badly enough that her caddie noticed her eyes rolling back and a security guard and medic caught her just before she could have suffered a serious injury.
Hull recalled the surreal experience upon regaining consciousness:
“… when I woke up from fainting I felt, like, I come out of a really nice deep sleep. Like, I felt really nice. I was like, oh, this feels good. I’m, like, that’s not my bedroom. I see birds above me and about 15 people around me and I was like, where the f** am I? Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to swear. Sorry. But yeah, that’s what I see when it happened.”
Denied Opportunity to Finish Round, Hull Focusing on Recovery
After the incident, Hull’s agent approached LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler requesting that she be allowed to complete her opening round later, but the request was declined, as expected. As her recovery continues, rest has become a top priority, preventing her from training or working out for over two weeks and requiring further downtime.
“Drives me bonkers, not being able to go to the gym. I’ve been chilling and practicing. I’ve still been practicing pretty hard. I’m not one to just do something. So just twiddling my thumbs,”
Hull admitted about her forced inactivity.
Heading Into the Scottish Open, Hull Shows Determination Despite Setbacks
Hull joined the field in Scotland alongside top players including world No. 1 Nelly Korda and rising star Lottie Woad, who recently transitioned from amateur to professional following a near victory at the Evian. Hull acknowledged that her pace on the course might be slower as she eases back into competition but emphasized her commitment to finishing strong.
“Probably won’t see me strolling 30 yards ahead of everyone like I usually do,”
Hull said.
“Probably be 30 yards behind everyone, but I’ll get it done.”
Implications for Hull’s Season and Future Health
This fainting episode highlights the physical challenges Hull has faced recently, disrupting her preparation during a critical stretch of LPGA majors. The incident underscores the importance of monitoring health closely and balancing recovery with competitive goals. How Hull manages this setback could influence her performance in upcoming tournaments and inform her approach to conditioning and wellness moving forward. The golf community and fans alike will be watching her progress cautiously as she strives to return to full strength on the tour.