Charley Hull proved she can shake off a recent bout of illness and a lack of practice to put herself in contention at the LPGA Tour’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. The English professional, who was part of Europe’s victorious Solheim Cup team earlier this month, turned in a 65 in the opening round at Pinnacle Country Club, finishing just two strokes shy of the early leader.
Hull’s round was a blend of seven birdies and a single bogey, a performance that highlighted both her resilience and her skill. After the Solheim Cup triumph in the Netherlands, Hull disclosed that she had been battling tonsillitis throughout Europe’s 15‑13 win over the United States. Despite feeling under the weather and missing several days of golf, she arrived in Arkansas on a Saturday, completed sponsor obligations through Tuesday, and only set foot on the course late Tuesday night. With virtually no preparation time, Hull entered the tournament with no expectations other than to play solid golf, and she delivered.
"I felt like I played pretty solid," Hull said after her round. "It was quite weird – last week at home I didn’t hit a golf ball for like five days because I was bed‑bound and I was so poorly. After the Solheim Cup I had the flu, I had sickness and everything. I nearly pulled out of this week because I felt like I wasn’t prepared enough!
I came over to America on Saturday, had sponsor stuff up until Tuesday and got in here late Tuesday night. It wasn’t really the best prep, but actually I come in here with no expectations.
I felt like I hit it pretty well tee‑to‑green and putted decent." Her 65 left her tied for third at six under par, trailing Japan’s Yuna Nishimura, who set the early pace with a low‑scoring round. Nishimura later secured a dramatic one‑shot advantage with a final‑hole eagle, edging past China’s Yu Liu, who had posted a bogey‑free 64 and briefly held the clubhouse lead. Hull found herself in a tightly packed leaderboard group that also included her Solheim Cup teammate Celine Boutier, both sitting at six under.
Hull’s round was not without its missed opportunities. She failed to capitalize on two of the three par‑five holes, yet she responded admirably after an early over‑par stretch. From the 13th hole onward, she recorded three birdies in a five‑hole span, then added four more birdies during a six‑hole surge after the turn. This ability to rebound after setbacks underscored her mental toughness, especially given the limited practice she had before the tournament.
England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff made a late charge toward the lead, but two bogeys in her final three holes left her with a respectable five‑under 66. Fellow English players Lottie Woad and Caley McGinty also stayed within striking distance, each finishing three shots back. Woad explained her strategy, saying, "With it only being three rounds, you want to get off to a good start and try and not drop too many shots.
If you hit a lot of greens like I did today then you’re not going to make too many bogeys." Other notable performances on day one included Mimi Rhodes, who opened with a four‑under 67, and Chiara Tamburlini, a player who narrowly missed Solheim Cup qualification, also sitting four shots behind the leader after a solid first round. The field is shaping up to be highly competitive, with several players positioned to make a move over the next two days. The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship continues to attract attention not only for the on‑course drama but also for its broadcast reach. Live coverage will resume on Saturday at 9 p.m.
on Sky Sports+, offering fans the chance to follow the unfolding story in real time. For those interested in playing the sport themselves, Sky Sports also promotes special deals on golf courses throughout the UK and Ireland, featuring access to over 1,700 venues. Looking ahead, the question on everyone’s mind is who will ultimately claim the title. Hull’s performance, despite the adversity she faced, suggests she could be a serious contender if she maintains her form.
The tournament’s format, with only three rounds scheduled, means every shot carries extra weight, and players will need to balance aggression with consistency to stay in contention. In summary, Charley Hull’s comeback from a post‑Solheim Cup illness showcases the depth of her character and her ability to perform under less‑than‑ideal circumstances.
Her 65, marked by a flurry of birdies and a steady composure, placed her firmly in the mix for the championship. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more thrilling golf, strategic play, and perhaps a surprise winner emerging from this tightly contested field.