Charley Hull: cigarette-smoking golfer goes viral at US Women’s Open

Charley Hull, the world’s No. 8 women’s golfer, channeled her inner John Daly while signing autographs for fans at the US Women’s Open on Tuesday.

Hull put her pen to paper – so to speak – all while having a lit cigarette in her mouth while greeting fans at the Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.

The image made the rounds on social media – even reaching the phones of those competing in the event itself, as World No. 1 Nelly Korda showed it to Hull and fellow golfer Megan Khang as the three shared a laugh.

Social media reaction was swift as a number of golf fans chimed in across Twitter.

‘No one makes golf look cooler right now than Charley Hull,’ wrote one user. 

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‘Funny because on [Instagram] she’s always in the gym and what not but on the course [she’s] ripping darts lmao,’ said another.

That wasn’t her only heater of the day, with one fan posting an image of her lighting up another one later in the round. 

Another post to Twitter read, ‘Charley Hull Rips A Cig While Signing Autographs For Kids. John Daly Is Likely Somewhere Shedding A Tear’, while another called the move ‘John Daly-esque’.

Daly, the two-time Major champion, has a penchant for ripping darts during tournaments.

He even reportedly went through two packs of cigarettes in the first round of this year’s PGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, according to The Athletic. 

Daly withdrew prior to the second round of the tournament.

Hull, 28, has won twice on the LPGA Tour and is a three-time winner on the Ladies European Tour. 

She began playing golf at the age of 2 with her father at her home course in Kettering, Northamptonshire and turned pro at the age of 17 in 2013.

Last year, Hull was diagnosed with ADHD and has been open in how fitness has helped her with managing symptoms.

‘When I feel like I’m struggling, I go to the gym,’ Hull told Sky Sports in an interview in April. ‘I decided not to take any medication as I feel that I can manage it myself. 

‘One of the biggest things for me is routine. That’s why the job that I have works well in that my days have a regular structure to them.

‘When I’m away on tour, I can get into a really good routine and that helps me enormously. I have a better understanding of myself in terms of what works for me and what does not. 

‘I know how important routine is for me and I’m better at scheduling and planning so that I can be as healthy as possible. I put myself first. I know my triggers and how to cope. I just do me.’

Hull, who has more than 438,000 followers on Instagram, is interested in fashion and described her style as ‘unapologetic.’