Charley Hull has made it clear that the backlash she received for a light‑hearted prank on her caddie will not distract her from her goal of winning the AIG Women’s Open. After posting a video in which she pretended to give her caddie, Adam "Adsy" Woodward, a £100,000 scratch‑card win – a trick she set up by buying a novelty ticket from a Blackpool joke shop – the English golfer was bombarded with negative comments on social media. Hull, who finished the first round with a 69 and followed it with an even‑par 71 on Friday morning at Royal Lytham & St Annes, dismissed the criticism, saying she "doesn’t care" and urging people to "lighten up." Hull entered the tournament with only three hours of sleep before her second round, yet she still managed to post a two‑under‑par total, keeping herself firmly in the chase for the major title. The 27‑year‑old, who has been runner‑up at this championship twice in the past three years, said she feels her nerves have settled and that she is ready to make a push over the weekend.

"I’m really looking forward to it," she said. "It’s going to be loads of fun. My back was a little sore today, but I think I’m in a better place than I was last year." When asked about the relationship with her caddie, Hull emphasized how close they are.

"Adsy is like a big brother to me," she explained. "We’re very, very close and he’s one of my best friends. He loves a good joke and thought the prank was brilliant – he was laughing hard and even showed it to everyone." The prank, captured on camera, quickly went viral and sparked a wave of criticism.

Some observers felt the stunt was in poor taste, especially given the seriousness of a major championship. Hull, however, defended her sense of humour, noting that those who know her understand the banter that runs through her household. "I don’t care if you don’t get my humour – my friends get it and that’s why they’re my friends," she said.

"I wouldn’t do it to a random person who I knew wouldn’t take it well." Hull also pointed out that criticism can be a motivator. "They actually make me want to do better because we live in a world where you can’t do anything wrong these days, and that stops people from living the life they want," she said.

"I just live me. Our household has a lot of banter and we’re always taking the mickey out of each other.

It’s just the way I was brought up, and I think people need to be a bit more thick‑skinned." She added that being in the public eye inevitably brings scrutiny. "If you put yourself in the limelight, you have to expect comments like that," Hull remarked.

"Some people seem to be looking for sympathy, as if I’m struggling because of the criticism. But I’m in a good position in life – there are people far worse off who would be moaning about something like this." Hull’s caddie, Woodward, responded in kind, calling the week "one of the funniest ever" because of the prank and urging detractors to back off. "He’s the king of pranks," Hull said, noting that his fellow caddies often pull even more elaborate jokes.

"He’s loving the attention, but people need to chill out about it." Despite the noise, Hull remains focused on her performance. She acknowledged a slight soreness in her back during the second round, which may have affected her swing, but she believes the issue is manageable.

"My back was playing up a little today, that’s why I wasn’t getting through the ball the way I wanted," she explained. "But I’m not too far back going into the weekend – better than I was last year." Hull’s determination is evident as she looks ahead to the final rounds of the AIG Women’s Open.

With a two‑under‑par total after two rounds, she sits among the leaders and hopes to convert her consistency into a first major victory. The tournament will continue on Saturday with live coverage on Sky Sports Golf, and fans can stream the action without a contract through the provider’s online platform. In summary, Charley Hull has taken the criticism surrounding her caddie prank in stride, using it as fuel rather than a distraction.

She emphasizes the strength of her bond with Adam Woodward, the importance of humor in her life, and her unwavering commitment to competing at the highest level. As the weekend unfolds at Royal Lytham & St Annes, all eyes will be on Hull to see whether she can translate her resilience and skill into a historic win at the AIG Women’s Open.