Charley Hull has made it clear that the wave of criticism surrounding her recent caddie prank does not faze her at all. Despite a night of limited rest, the English golfer remains firmly entrenched in the hunt for the AIG Women’s Open crown. After posting a solid 69 in the opening round, Hull carded an even‑par 71 on Friday morning at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes course. Her round featured three birdies balanced by three bogeys, leaving her two strokes under par and comfortably positioned in the final major of the season.
The controversy erupted when Hull revealed, prior to the tournament, that she had duped her caddie Adam "Adsy" Woodward into believing he had won a £100,000 prize on a scratch‑card. The stunt was captured on video after Hull purchased a counterfeit ticket from a novelty shop in Blackpool. The clip quickly spread across social media, prompting a flood of negative comments.
Hull, however, says the backlash has had little impact on her focus. She noted that Woodward was in on the joke and took it in good humour, describing their relationship as "very, very close – he’s like a big brother and one of my best friends." She added that the banter between them is a regular part of their dynamic, and that the criticism simply reflects a misunderstanding of their rapport. "People need to lighten up," Hull said after her round.
"If you don’t get my sense of humour, that’s fine – my friends do, and that’s why they’re my friends. I wouldn’t pull a stunt like that on someone who wouldn’t take it well." Hull also highlighted Woodward’s reputation as a prankster, noting that the caddie is known for pulling jokes on his fellow caddies and players.
"He’s loving the attention," she said, urging detractors to stop posting negative remarks. "If you have something to say, I don’t care – I’m just going to keep playing my game." When pressed about how she deals with the online negativity, Hull responded that the comments actually motivate her to perform better. "We live in a world where people expect you to be perfect all the time, and that pressure can hold you back. I’m not going to let a few bad comments dictate how I feel." She emphasized that her upbringing is steeped in light‑hearted teasing, and that she expects a certain level of resilience from anyone in the public eye.
"If you’re in the spotlight, you have to expect criticism. Some people seem to seek sympathy by claiming they’re crushed by it, but I think that’s a cop‑out." Hull didn’t shy away from calling out the critics directly, reminding them that many people face far tougher challenges in life.
"You’re in a privileged position; there are people who are far worse off than you are, yet you’re complaining about a few nasty comments. Grow a thicker skin and move on," she said.
She also pointed out the absurdity of letting online remarks become the biggest problem in one’s life. "If the worst thing that happens to you is a few negative tweets, then you’re not really living a bad life," Hull remarked. Despite the drama, Hull admitted she had only managed about three hours of sleep before her second round. The sleep‑deprived Englishwoman, a five‑time major runner‑up who has finished second twice at the AIG Women’s Open in the past three years, said she felt ready for the challenge ahead.
"I’m really looking forward to the rest of the tournament. It’s going to be a lot of fun," Hull said. "My nerves have settled now. My back was a little sore today, which affected my swing a bit, but I’m feeling better than I was last year heading into the weekend." Hull’s performance puts her in a strong position to contend for the title, and she remains focused on executing her game plan rather than getting sidetracked by external noise.
As the weekend unfolds, fans can watch the drama unfold live on Sky Sports, with coverage continuing from midday on Saturday. The tournament promises high‑stakes golf, and Hull appears determined to let her play speak louder than any prank‑related controversy.