Charley Hull Struggles in Olympic Golf Opener

In a surprising start to the Olympic women’s golf tournament, Charley Hull, representing Great Britain, had a tough day on the course. She shot a 9-over-par 81 during the opening round at Le Golf National.

Hull, 28, is used to playing while smoking on the golf course, a habit that she claims helps to calm her nerves. However, with the Olympics‘ strict rules against smoking, she faced new challenges during her competition. Before the tournament, she admitted that not being able to smoke might hinder her performance.

Things didn’t start off well for Hull, who double-bogeyed the first hole of the day. It didn’t get better from there, as she ended up adding seven more bogeys, leaving her with zero birdies throughout the round.

Reflecting on her performance afterward, Hull stated, “It’s definitely not because I couldn’t smoke. I’ve been injured.” She explained that she hurt her shoulder after a fall a few weeks ago.

Despite her struggles, Hull remains hopeful. She’s eager to shake off the rust from her time off and is looking forward to making a comeback. In her own words, she hoped to shoot «9 under tomorrow.»

Nelly Korda, a top contender from the United States, also had a rocky start. Like Hull, she sat at two over par after a few holes in her opening round.

Hull, who previously pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to pandemic restrictions, has been gearing up for this moment. She expressed excitement about participating in Paris and playing alongside her close friend, Georgia Hall, who is making her Olympic debut.

The two are not just friends but have a history of strong teamwork. They’ve proved to be a strong pairing in past competitions, including the Solheim Cups, and are excited to support one another during the Olympics. Hull said, “It’s perfect to get to play with my best mate.”