Charley Hull is back at it — but with some help from a fan this time.
The Englishwoman stopped in the midst of her Solheim Cup practice round on Thursday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va. to borrow a fan’s lighter so she could fire up a cigarette.
Hull has become a viral sensation on the golf course after lighting up while signing autographs at the U.S. Open, drawing comparisons to longtime golf character John Daly.
The 28-year-old enter Friday’s opening matches of the Solheim Cup as the No. 12-ranked LPGA player and has seen her social media popularity surge to a 625,000 follower total on Instagram — not that she’d know, though.
“I don’t have access to my Instagram — I stopped being on my Instagram about six months ago,” she told reporters Thursday, noting her agent handles the account. “It’s unbelievable how much my followers have gained — I didn’t actually realize how many I have. I just think it’s pretty cool.”
Fans seems to agree, as her star has been on the rise this year, thanks to a couple of on-course nicotine fixes — she even signed a cigarette for one lucky fan.
“I don’t really know. I just love playing golf in America, I love the American crowds,” she said. “They’re so much fun — I love playing Solheim Cup in America because the atmosphere is amazing. We play over here every week in the LPGA Tour and I just really enjoy it, the crowds are such a great laugh.”
The feeling is mutual — even among her Solheim Cup teammates.
“Charley? She’s different than everyone else, and that’s why people love her, and that’s why, like — she’s just really fun to be around and a really genuine, kind person,” Hull’s European teammate and Brit pal Georgia Hall said. “Obviously a great golfer, so obviously that helps, but yeah, I think the fact she doesn’t care what anyone thinks and goes about her life the way she wants, I think a lot of people can learn from that.”
Hull doesn’t plan on changing, as she’s found the secret formula — on and off the course.
“I’m just myself,” she said. “I just am myself. If I like things, I like it for myself. If other people don’t like it, it’s not their life. Literally just live like a normal person.”
She’ll have to light up more than a cigarette to help Europe win its first Solheim Cup in four tries.
Hull and teammate Esther Henseleit couldn’t fell to Americans Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz on the back nine as the U.S. won three of the four morning matches.
