Charley Hull enters the AIG Women’s Open this week with tempered expectations as she continues to recover from a back injury that has hindered her training and preparation. The injury, sustained while lifting a box out of her car shortly before the Evian Championship, has restricted her ability to train fully, affecting her performance entering this major event.
Recent Health Issues and Their Impact on Hull’s Game
Hull had also been coping with an illness that caused her to collapse on a tee box, leading to her withdrawal from the first round of the Evian Championship on July 10. Though she has since recovered from that episode, the combination of the illness and back injury has significantly limited her time for gym workouts and rehabilitation exercises.
“My back’s been really playing up and I’ve not been hitting it as well because I’ve not been able to go to the gym and do my rehab exercises,”
Hull told reporters on Wednesday. She added,
“I’m not hitting it the best coming into this week which is very frustrating because it’s an event I’ve been looking forward to playing all year. I’ve just got to go out there with what I’ve got.”
Performance and Rankings Leading into the Open
Currently ranked No. 20 in the Rolex World Rankings, Hull has slipped from a peak position of eighth earlier this year, despite a strong run of three consecutive finishes of 11th place or better. Before her back injury and withdrawal from the Evian Championship, Hull placed fourth at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. Following that, she tied for 21st at last week’s Scottish Open, demonstrating her resilience despite ongoing issues.
She will begin the first two rounds of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, Wales, grouped alongside world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul and Minjee Lee, providing a high-profile setting for her comeback.
Reflecting on her approach, Hull said,
“At the end it’s just a game of golf and you’ve got to go out there and have fun. I’m not going to let it beat me up too much. Apart from that, I feel pretty good.”
Growing Popularity Beyond the Course
Alongside her golf career, Hull’s popularity continues to grow, buoyed by a significant social media following and recent exposure from her cameo in the movie Happy Gilmore 2, released last week. Although her entertainment experience was brief, Hull expressed enjoyment in participating while dismissing aspirations to pursue acting full-time.
“It was quite a long day. It was good fun to be fair,”
she remarked.
“It was pretty cool because I watched the first (Happy Gilmore) when I was a kid growing up. Never thought I’d be in a movie, but there you go.”
She added,
“Definitely safe to say I couldn’t be an actress. Just filming that scene all day, I haven’t got the patience.”
Outlook for the AIG Women’s Open
As Hull prepares to compete despite setbacks, her determination and calm attitude reflect a hopeful mindset. Her progress through the tournament will be closely watched, both for her performance and her ongoing journey through Charley Hull back injury recovery. Success this week could not only boost her rankings but also reaffirm her resilience and ability to compete at the highest level amid physical challenges.