With more than 800,000 followers on Instagram, Charley Hull's presence stretches far beyond the course. Her social media offers a mix of designer handbags and early-morning gym sessions. In fact, she didn't skip a workout even before opening up on a controversy to The Athletic.

"Before you guys got here, I ran a 5K," she said ahead of the conversation. The photograph in question originates from the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open.

During that week, she was snapped smoking on the course. The image spread rapidly, and the internet was quick to label her the “female John Daly.” The comparison stuck, even if it flattened the reality. 

One image became a personality, and assumptions followed. Based on how she has been perceived, Charley Hull addressed the assumptions that followed the viral image. “People think I’m a party girl. Maybe it’s because I dress nicely off the golf course. I’ve got blonde hair. I’m outspoken,” Hull told The Athletic. “But I’m just true to myself. I just say it the way it is," she added.

Hull’s mother, on the other hand, had the photograph framed and placed prominently in her trophy room, which sits alongside her achievements.

Charley Hull on the Course of Tiburón Golf Club 

Hull continues to perform and excel as a competitor, most recently doing so at the Grant Thornton Invitational. Teaming with Michael Brennan at Tiburón Golf Club, the pair shared the opening-round lead after a 17-under 55 in the scramble format.

That shot broke the tournament record in mixed events. Although a tougher alternate-shot Saturday followed, a 1-under 71 kept them second at 18-under, one stroke off the lead heading into the final round.

Charley Hull and Michael Brennan head into Sunday's final, which is a Modified Foursome, in second place on the leader board, and very much in the running for the title.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi