Charley Hull on teaming up with ‘best mate’ Georgia Hall for Team GB at the Olympics, that viral John Daly-esque smoking moment and her dating life

Charley Hull is no stranger to representing Team GB on the Olympic stage.

The 28-year-old finished in a tie for seventh place at the 2016 Rio Games and could also have reached Tokyo.

However, Hull withdrew from the 2021 Olympics, which were postponed due to the pandemic. She admitted that the restrictions within the bubble ultimately influenced her decision.

Yet the world No. 11 insists she has no regrets, and in fact, it has only made her return to Paris sweeter.

“It was the right thing to do at the time but it makes me even more excited about Paris because Rio was so long ago,” she told Mail Sport, speaking on behalf of Rizz.

The two-time LPGA winner will play at the former Ryder Cup course, Le Golf National, from August 7 to 10, together with his good friend and fellow British star Georgia Hall.

With Paris marking Hull’s second Olympic Games, Hall will be making her debut and the best friends can’t wait to compete together.

“We’ve known each other since we were 11 and grew up practicing together. It’s perfect to play with my best buddy,” Hull enthuses.

The childhood friends have proven to be a formidable duo in the past, helping Europe crush the American Dream at the last three Solheim Cups.

They recently worked together at the Dow Championship, something they called a “no-brainer.”

Hull also have a special connection with the Solheim Cup, having become the youngest player to compete in the competition at the age of 17.

While the idea of ​​playing for a country – or continent – ​​is not foreign to Hull, she stresses that the Olympic Games have a unique element.

“It’s more personal at the Olympics because we’re competing for medals individually,” she says. “Whereas in Solheim, even though we can win individual matches, there’s only one team that wins at the end of the week. You can play really well all week and still lose as a team to the U.S., whereas at the Olympics, if I play well, I have a shot at a medal.”

“It’s a dream to be able to compete in the Olympics,” she adds. “I’m looking forward to it and I’m also meeting new athletes that I wouldn’t have been able to meet otherwise.”

She admits she hasn’t yet looked at her calendar to see what events she wants to attend off the course, but there is one place in Paris she absolutely wants to visit: ringside.

“I hope there is a boxing event I can attend because I love it,” she reveals.

Hull will have no trouble overtaking other Olympians if she can reach the Olympic Village, despite starting in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 41km away.

Some athletes have already jokingly referred to the village as ‘The Villa’, a nod to reality show Love Island, but Hull admits she has no plans for a power couple for the time being.

“I’ve dated men who played golf and men who didn’t,” she says of her love life.

“It’s definitely easier when they do, because that’s my hobby too. When they’re not playing, it’s harder for us to connect. I’ve had a taste of high-profile relationships, but I didn’t love everything about them, so I’m staying away from them for now.”

Hull was previously married to MMA fighter Ozzie Smith. The couple married in 2019, but divorced just two years later.

She admits that building a new relationship amid the busy schedule of a professional golfer is not easy.

“With all the practice and traveling I do, my time is severely limited,” she adds, explaining her decision to start a new dating app, Rizz.

‘Finding time to meet new people and really get to know them is hard. Everyone I interact with has to be cool with it and be able to build a real connection through FaceTime and texting.

‘When dating, it’s important to make time for your partner and build trust through open communication. With that foundation, you can make a relationship work no matter how busy life gets.’

As she juggles her romance with her life on tour, Hull admits she often turns to her fellow pros for relationship advice, just as any woman turns to her girlfriends.

“Of course! Doesn’t everyone do that? With Rizz, my friends can give me feedback and advice on who I’m chatting with in real time,” she says, revealing that Rizz allows her friends to give their opinions on her matches in real time – one of her favorite features.

“We all know how screenshots of conversations get passed around when you’re talking to someone new. But with this app, screenshots are no longer necessary: ​​it keeps the communication open and it’s cool that they’re joining the conversation with me.”

While she may be shying away from high-profile romances, Hull has still been in the spotlight lately.

She cemented her name as a cult icon at the US Open with a John Daly-esque viral moment.

She was filmed signing autographs with a lit cigarette in her mouth during the major championship at Lancaster Country Club. The clip quickly went viral on social media, even leading to comparisons to Daly.

But Hull was astonished by the attention it attracted.

“It was crazy… not really what I expected, but I think it shows that all publicity is good publicity,” she admits.

‘I’d rather be in the news for my golf game, but hopefully it helped gain a few new fans for golf!’