Golf star Charley Hull appeared to lose patience with Lexi Thompson during an awkward opening round of the US Women’s Open.
On Thursday, Hull and Thompson were paired alongside world No 1 Nelly Korda at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, where the winner will take home $2.4million.
But none is inside the top 30 after a tense opening round when Hull seemed to grow frustrated at Thompson’s pace of play.
The English star, who went viral for smoking on the course at last year’s event, has previously been outspoken about slow play.
And Hull appeared to take issue with the American as early as the opening hole on Thursday.
A clip, which was posted to social media, showed Hull waiting as Thompson stood over a putt. As the American went through her meticulous pre-shot routine, Hull could be seen letting out a huge sigh.
Charley Hull (R) appeared to lose patience with Lexi Thompson (L) at the US Women’s Open
By the time Thompson was putting on the eighth green, Hull had already headed to the ninth hole, where she sat down near the tee.
Later, Hull began making her way down 18 before Korda and Thompson had finished hitting their tee shots. They eventually ended their round in a little under five and a half hours.
Thompson went on to finish the opening round at one-over-par after carding a 73 at Erin Hills. That left the American in a tie for 59th.
Hull and Korda, meanwhile, went one better. Both began the second round at level par.
Last year Hull slammed the slow play of some of her rivals, branding it ‘crazy’. She also suggested a radical plan to speed them up.
‘I’m quite ruthless, but I said: “Listen, if you get three bad timings, every time there’s a two-shot penalty. If you have three of them, you lose your Tour card instantly…” I’m sure that would hurry up a lot of people.’
Thompson echoed Hull’s concerns, admitting: ‘Slow play is an issue… rounds shouldn’t take more than four and a half hours, especially in threesomes.’
