Charley Hull is no stranger to representing Team GB on the Olympic stage.
The 28-year-old finished joint seventh at the Games in Rio in 2016 and could have made it to Tokyo as well.
However, Hull pulled out of the pandemic-delayed Olympics in 2021, admitting it was the bubble restrictions that ultimately forced her decision.
Yet, the World No 11 insists she has no regrets, In fact, it has only made her return in Paris sweeter.
‘It was the right thing to do at the time, but it makes me even more excited for Paris as Rio was such a long time ago,’ she tells Mail Sport, speaking on behalf of Rizz.
Charley Hull will represent Team GB on the Olympic stage in Paris this week
The 28-year-old is no stranger to representing Team GB, previously doing so at Rio 2016
The LPGA Tour star opened up to Mail Sport on the Olympics, dating and that viral moment
The two-time winner on the LPGA will tee it up at former Ryder Cup course, Le Golf National on August 7 to 10 alongside close friend and fellow British star, Georgia Hall.
While Paris marks Hull’s second Olympics, Hall will make her debut and the best friends could not be more excited to compete alongside each other.
‘We have known each other since we were 11 and grew up practicing together. It’s perfect to get to play with my best mate,’ Hull enthuses.
The childhood pals have proven to be a formidable pairing in the past helping Europe crush the American Dream at the past three Solheim Cups.
Most recently, they teamed up at the Dow Championship, something which they claimed was a ‘no-brainer.’
Hull also has a special relationship with the Solheim Cup after becoming the youngest player to take part in the competition at the age of 17.
But, while the concept of playing for a country – or continent – is not a foreign one to Hull, she insists there’s a unique element to the Olympics.
‘It’s more personal at the Olympics as we are playing individually for medals,’ she says. ‘Whereas Solheim, although we can win individual matches, there is only one team that wins at the end of the week. You could play really well all week but still lose as a team to the US whereas at the Olympics if I play well I have a chance of a medal.’
Hull will tee it up at Le Golf National with close friend and fellow British star, Georgia Hall (L)
‘Being able to play in the Olympics is a dream,’ she adds. ‘I’m excited for that and also meeting new athletes that I may not have had the chance to meet.’
She admits she has yet to check the schedule to plan which events she wants to catch away from the golf course but there’s one place in Paris she’s determined to get to; ringside.
‘I hope there’s some boxing that I can go and catch as I love it,’ she reveals.
Hull will have no trouble catching other Olympians if she can make it to the Olympic Village – despite competing in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 41 km away.
The village has jokingly been dubbed ‘The Villa’ in a nod to reality TV show, Love Island, by some athletes but Hull admits she will be steering clear of any athlete power couple moves for the time being.
‘I’ve dated guys who golf and guys who don’t,’ she says as she opens up on her dating life.
‘It’s definitely easier if they do because that’s my spare-time passion too. If they don’t play, it’s harder for us to connect. I’ve had a taste of high-profile relationships, but I didn’t love everything that came with it, so I’m steering clear of that for now.’
Hull was previously married MMA fighter Ozzie Smith with the couple tying the knot in 2019 but they divorced just two years later.
Hull was previously married MMA fighter Ozzie Smith but divorced after two years
And she admits that establishing a new relationship amid the exhausting schedule of a professional golfer is no easy feat.
‘With all the practice and travel I do, my time is seriously limited,’ she adds, explaining her decision to get behind a new dating app, Rizz.
‘Finding time to meet new people and really get to know them is tough. Anyone I connect with has to be cool with that and able to build a real bond over FaceTime and texts.
‘In dating, making time for your partner and building trust through open communication is key. With that foundation, you can make a relationship work no matter how busy life gets.’
As she juggles romance with life on tour, Hull admits she often turns to her fellow pros for relationship advice – just like any woman turning to her friends.
‘Of course! Doesn’t everyone? With Rizz, my friends can give me feedback and advice on who I’m chatting with in real-time,’ she says, revealing that Rizz allows her friends to provide their takes on her matches in real-time – one of her favorite features.
Hull admits that establishing a new relationship as a professional golfer is no easy feat
The golfer established herself as a US Open cult icon with a John Daly-esque viral moment
‘We all know how screenshots of conversations get passed around when you’re talking to someone new. But with this app, no more screenshots needed—it keeps communication open, and it’s cool having them join in on the conversation with me.’
While she may be swerving from the high-profile romances, Hull found herself in the spotlight recently.
She established herself as a US Open cult icon with a John Daly-esque viral moment.
She was filmed signing autographs with a lit cigarette in her mouth at the major championship at Lancaster Country Club. The clip quickly flooded social media and even sparked comparisons with Daly.
But Hull was left baffled by the attention it sparked.
‘It was crazy… not really what I was expecting, but I guess it shows that any publicity is good publicity,’ she admits.
‘I’d rather make the headlines for my golf, but hopefully, it helped to attract a few new fans to golf!’
