Charley Hull reveals why she’s had a disastrous start to 2024 Olympics… and it has nothing to do with the cigarette ban
British golfer Charley Hull has spoken out about her poor start to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The 28-year-old, who went viral earlier this year for smoking a cigarette, did not use the smoking ban as an excuse after posting a nine-over-par 81 in the opening round of the women’s tournament on Wednesday.
“Absolutely not,” Hull told reporters, via USA Today, when asked if the cigarette ban contributed to her disastrous first round.
“That’s because I got hurt,” she explained.
The Briton recently suffered a shoulder injury when she fell while getting out of the shower, and her game has become ‘rusty’ as a result.
British golfer Charley Hull has spoken out about her poor start to the 2024 Paris Olympics
“That’s because I got hurt,” she said, noting it had nothing to do with the smoking ban.
Earlier this week, speaking to the media, she said that smoking makes her “relaxed” and predicted it could affect her game.
“But it is what it is,” she said at the time.
Hull also spoke to Mail Sport about her return to the Olympics after withdrawing from the Games delayed due to pandemic in 2021, admitting that it was the bubble restrictions that ultimately forced her to make her decision.
“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 us this week.
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.
Hull will represent Team GB on the Olympic podium in Paris, after competing in Rio 2016
Hull will tee off at Le Golf National with good friend and fellow British star, Georgia Hall
“We’ve known each other since we were 11 and grew up practicing together. It’s perfect to play with my best buddy,” Hull explained.
“It’s a dream to be able to participate in the Olympic Games. I’m looking forward to it and I’m also meeting new athletes that I would never have been able to meet otherwise.”
In May, Hull was caught signing autographs at the Lancaster Country Club with a lit cigarette in her mouth, drawing comparisons to John Daly.
“It’s actually quite funny,” she told reporters after the photo went viral.
“I don’t know – all over a cigarette, I guess. But I actually walked into the range and had my hands full. Someone asked me for an autograph and I’m not going to say no because I always enjoy signing autographs for them.”