This one is a Q&A style with Charley Hull – who will be playing at this year’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House from July 3-6. Tickets are still available HERE and Charley will join a host of other LPGA and LET players as well as a host of Irish names such as Leona Maguire, Lauren Walsh, Sara Byrne and Annabel Wilson at the event. It’s one not to be missed.
Dylan Dethier: You grew up in a small town a couple of hours north of London. What’s your first golfing memory?
Charley Hull: When I was, like, three, I’d play with my dad down at his golf course, Kettering Golf Club. I used to just walk around with him at first. Then we’d play.
DD: Did you play other sports or was it always golf?
CH: I did play soccer and stuff like that, but I spent every day at the golf course.
DD: And were you good at the game right away?
CH: Yeah. Everyone used to say I always had that “natural talent.”
DD: What’s the first time you remember being clearly good in a way that was different from everyone else?
CH: When I was seven years old, I beat a 17-year-old boy, and I think that’s when people started saying, “Ooh, she’s pretty good.”
DD: What was his reaction?
CH: He was mad. After I beat him, he just said, “F—ing girls.”
DD: Did you really love the game or was it just, you know, part of your life?
CH: I loved it. It was all I knew, really, so I didn’t think about it. But I just loved being on the golf course.
DD: Now you’ve been a pro for over a decade. Do you have the same relationship with the sport?
CH: I don’t know. It’s something that’s been in my life—well, I’m 29, so for, like, 27 years. So I’m just so used to it. It’s my routine. When I don’t have it, I feel lost.
DD: When you made the 2013 Solheim Cup team, you were the youngest Cupper in history. What do you remember from that week?
CH: So, my first Solheim Cup came when I was 17, and in singles I played Paula Creamer, who was one of my idols, and I beat her 5 and 4 and got her autograph afterward. I wasn’t trying to be like, “Oh, I got the autograph of the golfer I beat.” My friend had asked me to get it and so I did.
DD: Do you remember Solheim feeling different than a typical event?
CH: I wasn’t nervous. The truth is—it’s the funniest thing—I got selected to the team at the 2013 British Open at St. Andrews and I remember hearing the news and I was gutted. I had my friend’s birthday party that was that same week as the Solheim. So when I got selected for the team, I was absolutely gutted. I was like, “Oh, I can’t go to my friend’s birthday party!” Looking back now it seems silly, but I didn’t realise how big the Cup is. In fairness, your friends only turn 17 once, 18 once. It feels like the whole world. And growing up playing golf, I missed out on a lot of things—normal things that most kids would do as part of their childhood. So I really was sad to miss it. But I guess, in the end, it’s worked out pretty well.
DD: Now that you’ve been on six of these teams, what’s different about the Solheim Cup? What makes it a special event compared to the rest of the calendar?
CH: It brings everyone together. I mean, I play for my country every week, but it’s different the way we’re playing for Europe. It’s just a fun event, a week to go out there and have a laugh with your mates. I don’t really get that nervous for Solheim, but I really look forward to it. I’ll get paired with Georgia Hall this year. She’s a good friend, and we’ll go out there and have fun.
DD: That all sounds really laid-back. I mean, do you ever get nervous out there?
CH: I’m weird. Like, I get more nervous playing pro-ams, when we’re playing with amateurs who are expecting you to be unbelievable. And then if you don’t hit a good shot, like, they judge you. But when I’m on a golf course in a tournament, I never really get nervous.
DD: You’re playing your first Irish Open soon. How much are you looking forward to it?
CH: I’ve heard so many good things about the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and I can’t wait to play. This will be my first Professional event in Ireland since I turned Pro in 2013, and it seems like the perfect event to mark this occasion. I look forward to experiencing Carton House and to meet the huge number of Irish fans that I have heard support this event so well – I am very excited to see you all soon!
DD: Obviously, you’ve been a really well-known golfer for a long time, but last summer you experienced a new wave of popularity. You were in contention at a few big events and found yourself in the spotlight.
CH: I’ve been playing really good golf for a while, had some really good weeks, played well in the majors. It’s been really fun and I’m hoping it can continue for the rest of this year as well.
DD: You had a couple viral moments as well, most memorably images of you smoking at the U.S. Women’s Open. But you said you’d left social media. Is that still the case?
CH: Oh, yeah. I haven’t been on social media now since March last year. I just thought about it, and I know if I wasn’t a golfer I would never have social media. A few years ago, I went a full month without having a phone, and I loved that. So I have a couple of people who do all my social media stuff for me. I’ll just send them some swing videos or pictures every day to put up on my Instagram or some stuff to post on my story. I just thought, If I don’t have to look at anything, why do it?
DD: And for people who are getting to know you for the first time, what do you want them to know about you?
CH: Hmm. I just live life the best I can. Like, just enjoy it. Enjoy every minute. You’re not promised tomorrow. Just go out there and have fun. Just literally get the most out of life. [Noise in the background] Sorry, I’ve met up with some friends.
DD: Go live it up. Last thing: How would your friends describe you?
CH: Let me ask. [Turns to a friend.] “Funny,” one says. “Smart and caring and a little bit crazy.” I think that’s about right.
This article originated on Golf.com
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