Charley Hull given smoking permission she was denied at Olympics in Solheim Cup boost
Charley Hull has been a controversial figure for Team Europe at the Solheim Cup this week - but the British golfer has been given a huge boost ahead of the opening day
British golfer Charley Hull will play with puff at the Solheim Cup, having been granted permission to smoke on the course.
This comes as a sharp contrast to the strict no-smoking rule she faced during her stint at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where she ended up tied for 27th place. The 28-year-old pro will represent Team Europe and duel with world No. 1 Nelly Korda in the much-anticipated opening match in Virginia this Friday.
Hull, who has previously admitted smoking helps manage her ADHD and ditch vaping, is happy to return to her routine which aids in her relaxation and focus - a stark difference from the Olympic experience, which she feared would hamper her performance.
"It's a habit now, but I won't do it this week [at the Olympics] because you're not allowed to," Hull confessed before playing in Paris. She believes smoking has a calming effect that could positively influence her game: "I think it could affect me because smoking relaxes me a little bit. But I'll just have to concentrate even harder on my golf."
The captain of Europe's Solheim Cup team, Suzann Pettersen, supports Hull's choice to light up. "It's nice to get Charley going, she doesn't like to sit around and wait," Pettersen observed, noting Hull's engaging interaction with fans and overall enjoyment on the course.
"And she has interacted well with the home fans here this week. She's having a ball. Charley's old enough to make those decisions [smoking]," she added, endorsing Hull's personal choice. In preparation for the big event, Hull was seen borrowing a lighter from a spectator during Wednesday's practice round, suggesting she's ready to swing into action without any hang-ups about the previous ban.
Suzann Pettersen is backing Charley Hull to be a key player for Team Europe in their quest for a fourth consecutive Solheim Cup victory, saying: "Charley's in fine form," and adding, "She's flying high, doing her own thing."
Pettersen also quipped about Hull's strong personality: "I actually think she's in great spirits. She loves the Solheim a lot. Thankfully, we only have one of her on our team because imagine having 12 of her. That would be kind of a handful."
Meanwhile, Hull has seen her popularity soar on social media, amassing 625,000 followers on Instagram. Speaking at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Hull expressed her carefree philosophy: "Well, I'm just myself," and elaborated, "If I like things, I like it for myself.
"If other people don't like it, well, it's not their life. I live me. I live my life the way I want to live it, not how anyone else wants me to live it. I think just literally just live like a normal person."
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