Why Charley Hull has inspired new generation of girl golfers in Britain

Take a bow, Charley Esmee Hull. Yes, I know she came up short in her bid to become a maiden major winner on Sunday, but the 27-year-old’s performance in the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath was still one of the most inspiring displays by a British golfer for some time.

Charley Hull walks to the first tee on the final day of the AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath in Tadworth. Picture: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

First and foremost, let’s give credit where credit is due to Lilia Vu because the American produced a classy display from start to finish in the closing circuit at the Surrey venue to land her second major win of the season after already claiming a breakthrough success in the Chevron Championship back in April. On the back of her brilliant year, she’s the new world No 1.

In truth, it would have taken something very special indeed for Hull, who’d started out sharing the lead with her playing partner, over the final 18 holes to have finished ahead of Vu in the fifth and last major of the season in the women’s game and, despite finishing six shots behind in second place after the final putt had dropped, the English player can certainly hold her head up high.

Along with a number of other Scots, my first glimpse of Hull came when, at the age of 16, she played in the 2012 Curtis Cup at Nairn in a Great Britain & Ireland team that contained Pamela Pretswell, who has since become Pretswell Asher.

Charley Hull and Lilia Vu walk together during the final round of the AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath Golf Club. Picture: Steph Chambers/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

There had been a bit of a stooshie surrounding Hull, a child prodigy, after she’d originally been overlooked by the Ladies Golf Union after failing to attend a trial for the biennial event, but her talent was there for all to see as she delivered one of five singles successes on the final day as the home team pulled off a memorable 10.5-9.5 victory over the United States, who’d led 3-0 after the opening session.

Ever since then, I’ve always kept an eye on how Hull has progressed because you honestly felt you’d witnessed the start of a special career and there have been lots of memorable moments already. She’s played in five Solheim Cups, recording 50 per cent or more in terms of her points return on each occasion, and will be a key member in the European team once more under Suzann Pettersen’s captaincy at Finca Cortesin in Spain next month.

She’s got two LPGA Tour wins and three LET title triumphs to her name and all that’s missing from her CV is a major victory, having now finished second on three occasions in the game’s marquee events and clocking up a total of nine top-ten finishes. It’s a pity that Sunday wasn’t her day, particularly when she had a crowd rooting for her close to home, but missing out on this occasion has left her feeling more determined than ever. In an interview for Sky Sports Golf, Hull declared: “I really feel like next year’s my time to win one and I want to get started as soon as possible. I want to make my hands bleed, I want to hit that many golf balls.”

Earlier this year, Hull was diagnosed with ADHD and she’s still trying to come to terms with that condition. Though noticeably a bit more hesitant these days before pulling the trigger, she still plays the game in a crash, bang, wallop style and that’s why so many of those young fans out at Walton Heath were inspired by her and would desperately have loved to see her come out on top. “It was unbelievable,” acknowledged Hull of the support. “I was shocked how many young kids came up to me, to be fair. It's quite cute and really inspiring because when I was younger I used to look up to Laura [Davies], but it's kind of cool how they are looking up to me now.”

A young fan shows her support for Charley Hull during the AIG Women's Open. Picture: Richard Heathcote/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

Her next chance in the AIG Women’s Open will be at St Andrews in a year’s time as the Old Course stages the event for the first time since 2013. Do yourself a favour by circling 22-25 August in red on your 2024 calendar because that will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of another huge summer of golf in Scotland. Now run by The R&A, the AIG Women’s Open is on an exciting journey. Muirfield last year and now Walton Heath have both been brilliant first-time venues for it and Royal Porthcawl, where it was almost spellbinding in this year’s weather-hit Senior Open, will also become a new course for the tournament in 2025.

On the eve of last week’s event, AIG extended its title sponsorship until 2030. “We have found an ally of women’s which which has formed the basis of our strong partnership and I am delighted to see that continue,” said Martin Slumbers, The R&A’s CEO, of that hugely-significant announcement, which coincided with the prize fund for the latest edition jumping to $9 million – double the amount for the first AIG-backed one back in 2019 at Woburn.

Though not quite with the same fanfare but definitely also worth noting, a new LET Performance Institute, which is being supported by the R&A, was launched during last week’s event and that certainly proved timely as Hull did her bit to inspire young golfers in Britain.

Gemma Dryburgh, too, because she’s certainly shown what can be achieved by a big win breeding confidence, having made the cut in all five of those majors this season and refusing to let moments of adversity get in her way. We’ll find out next week if Dryburgh has done enough to earn one of Peterssen’s picks for the Solheim Cup and, based on what the Norwegian had to say about the Scot recently, it’s certainly a distinct possibility and deservedly so.

Exciting times certainly lie ahead for the British women’s game and Ireland, too, of course, as Leona Maguire goes from strength to strength.