Charley Hull has made it clear that she is unfazed by the criticism that followed a light‑hearted prank she played on her caddie before the AIG Women’s Open. Despite a restless night and only a few hours of sleep, the English golfer entered the weekend still firmly in contention, sitting two strokes under par after posting a level‑par 71 on Friday at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Hull opened the tournament with a solid 69, then added three birdies and three bogeys on Friday to maintain her position near the top of the leaderboard. She now finds herself in the mix for what could be her first major title, even as the episode involving a fake scratch‑card has sparked a flurry of commentary on social media. The incident began when Hull revealed, prior to the tournament, that she had convinced her long‑time caddie Adam "Adsy" Woodward that he had won a £100,000 prize on a scratch‑card she had purchased from a novelty shop in Blackpool. The moment was captured on video and quickly circulated online, prompting a wave of reactions ranging from amusement to disapproval.
Some users argued that the joke was in poor taste, while others defended the pair’s close‑knit relationship and said the banter was harmless. In an interview after her second round, Hull emphasized that she and Woodward share a bond that goes beyond the typical player‑caddie dynamic. "We’re very, very close," she said. "He’s like a big brother to me, one of my best friends.
He’s always taking the mickey out of me, and he thought the prank was brilliant. He was laughing about it and showing it to everyone. When the criticism started, I just told people to lighten up." Hull added that she does not expect everyone to appreciate her sense of humor, but she values the support of those who do. "I don’t care if you don’t get my humour – my friends get my humour and that’s why they’re my friends.
I wouldn’t do it to a random person who I knew wouldn’t take it well," she explained. The Englishwoman also highlighted Woodward’s reputation for mischief. "Adsy is the king of pranks. The amount of jokes he and his caddie mates pull is massive, and he finds it hilarious.
He’s pretty chill and people need to chill out about that. He’s loving the attention," Hull said, noting that Woodward had texted her the night before, calling the week "one of the funniest ever" because of the stunt. When pressed about how she deals with negative comments, Hull responded that the backlash actually fuels her competitive fire. "They make me want to do better," she said.
"We live in a world where you can’t do anything wrong, and that stops people from living the life they want. I don’t care – I just live me. Our household is full of banter, we’re always taking the mickey out of each other. That’s how I was raised, and people need to be a bit more thick‑skinned." Hull also pointed out that being in the public eye inevitably invites criticism.
"You put yourself in the limelight, so it’s silly to think there won’t be comments. Some people say I struggle with these remarks and seem to be looking for sympathy, but I think they’re missing the point," she said.
"There are people far worse off, and you’re moaning about what strangers say about you. Grow a pair of balls and forget about it. If the worst thing in life is a few nasty comments, then you haven’t got life that bad." Physically, Hull admitted she had only managed about three hours of sleep before her second round, yet she felt prepared to tackle the challenges of the links course. The 28‑year‑old, a five‑time major runner‑up who has finished second twice in the last three years at this event, said the limited rest had not diminished her focus.
"I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be loads of fun," Hull said.
"My nerves have settled down now. My back was a little sore today, which is why I wasn’t getting the ball through the way I wanted. But I’m not too far back going into the weekend – better than I was last year!" Hull’s calm demeanor and determination suggest she is ready to convert her strong start into a possible victory.
The AIG Women’s Open will continue with live coverage on Sky Sports, and fans can follow the action throughout the weekend to see whether Hull’s resilience and humor translate into a major championship win.