Charley Hull

Charley Hull Bio

Charley Esmee Hull (born 20 March 1996) is an English professional golfer who competes on both the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the LPGA Tour. Recognized as one of the most talented English players of her generation, she has built a career marked by early achievement, consistent major-championship contention, and a growing list of professional titles. She reached a career-high world ranking of number five in September 2025, becoming the first Englishwoman to reach the top five since the Women’s World Golf Rankings were introduced in 2006.

Hull turned professional in 2013 at the age of sixteen and immediately made an impact by qualifying for the 2013 Solheim Cup as its youngest-ever competitor. Across her career she has won three LPGA Tour titles and four LET titles, with ten top-ten finishes in major championships and seven Solheim Cup appearances.

Early Life and Background

Charley Esmee Hull was born on 20 March 1996 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. She was raised by her father Dave, a former plasterer, and her mother Basienka, who is of Polish descent. Hull has two half-sisters, one from each parent.

Hull was first introduced to golf at the age of two and began playing alongside her father at Kettering Golf Club. She later joined Woburn Golf Club aged nine or ten, where her talent developed rapidly. When she was thirteen, Hull left school to be home-schooled, allowing her to spend most daylight hours practicing. She later explained that she played golf from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, and her focus shifted decisively toward the sport ahead of traditional studies.

Hull has cited Laura Davies and Seve Ballesteros as role models. Laura Davies, herself a celebrated English player, drew comparisons between the two, observing that Hull plays golf the way she did, often using her driver on nearly every hole and going for pins without fear of mistakes.

Path to Golf

Hull came to public attention at the age of nine when she won the Ladies Golf Union Championship at Turnberry, competing against adults. She scored 28 stableford points from a handicap of 26, a performance that signalled her exceptional early promise. Aged ten, she played alongside Morgan Pressel in the British Open Pro-Am, gaining further high-profile exposure.

She went on to win multiple amateur events in Great Britain and the United States and reached the top ten of the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Her amateur victories included the English Girls under-13 title in 2008, the Leveret at Formby Ladies in 2010, the Jones-Doherty match-play Championship in Florida in January 2011, the Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship in May 2011, and the English Women’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship later that year.

Hull represented Europe in the 2011 Junior Solheim Cup and Great Britain and Ireland in the 2012 Curtis Cup at Nairn Golf Club, which her side won 10.5 to 9.5. At the end of 2011, she became the first player to win both the English Girls and the Ladies Order of Merit in the same year, confirming her status as one of the leading amateurs in the game before her professional transition.

Charley Hull Career

Early Career (2013-2014)

Hull turned professional on 1 January 2013 and made her professional debut on the LET at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Agadir, Morocco, finishing tied for second behind Ariya Jutanugarn. She added four further runner-up finishes, including a playoff loss to Carlota Ciganda at the curtailed UniCredit Ladies German Open. In August 2013, she was selected for the 2013 Solheim Cup by European captain Liselotte Neumann, becoming the youngest player ever to compete in the event, and contributed two points as Europe won 18-10 in the United States.

She was named the 2013 LET Rookie of the Year and was also voted Best International Newcomer by the Sports Journalists’ Association. On 16 March 2014, Hull won her first professional title at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, birdieing the first playoff hole to defeat Gwladys Nocera after a closing bogey-free nine-under-par round. She finished the 2014 season as the youngest-ever winner of the LET Order of Merit.

LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2015-2017)

After failing to progress through LPGA Qualifying School at the end of 2014, Hull split her 2015 schedule between the LET and a limited number of LPGA Tour events. Her strong early play earned her a full exemption on the LPGA Tour, and she competed in the 2015 Solheim Cup at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, going unbeaten in pairs matches before losing her singles contest.

Her major breakthrough came in 2016 when she finished runner-up at the ANA Inspiration, one stroke behind Lydia Ko. Later that season, Hull won her first LPGA Tour title at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, finishing at a tournament-record 19-under-par to win by two strokes and earn $500,000. The wrist injury she suffered in 2017 limited her major results, though she still contributed a singles win over Brittany Lang at the 2017 Solheim Cup.

Aramco and LET Success (2018-2021)

In 2019, Hull won the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open in Abu Dhabi by one stroke and went unbeaten in all four matches at the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles as Europe defeated the United States 14.5 to 13.5. During 2020, she topped the standings of the inaugural Rose Ladies Series held during the COVID-19 suspension of the major tours, although she later tested positive for COVID-19 before the ANA Inspiration and was forced to withdraw.

In 2021, Hull secured her third LET title at the Aramco Team Series-New York event in October, winning by one stroke with Nelly Korda her closest challenger. She was part of the European team that beat the United States 15-13 at the 2021 Solheim Cup at Inverness Club, contributing two points alongside Emily Kristine Pedersen.

LPGA Return and Current Form (2022-Present)

Hull won her second LPGA Tour title at the 2022 Volunteers of America Classic at the Old American Golf Club in Texas, finishing at 18-under-par to end a six-year wait for an LPGA victory. She recorded five top-ten finishes on the LPGA Tour during 2022 and earned more than $1 million in prize money, ending the year at number 17 in the world rankings.

In 2024, Hull clinched her first victory since 2022 at the Aramco Team Series event in Riyadh, winning by three strokes. The following year, she captured her third LPGA title at the 2025 Kroger Queen City Championship, winning by one stroke over Jeeno Thitikul after Thitikul four-putted the par-5 18th hole. By September 2025 she had reached a career-high world ranking of number five.

Driving Style and Strengths

Hull is recognised for her aggressive, fearless style of play. She uses her driver on most holes and is willing to attack pins regardless of the risk. Former Solheim Cup player Trish Johnson has noted that Hull’s approach is unlikely to change because she will simply go for every pin, a style that occasionally produces costly mistakes but also creates the birdie opportunities that define her best finishes.

Notable Events and Milestones

Hull’s most celebrated moments include her 2013 Solheim Cup appearance as the youngest-ever competitor, her record-setting 2016 CME Group Tour Championship win, and her 2025 rise to world number five. She produced a memorable 5-and-4 singles victory over Paula Creamer at the 2013 Solheim Cup, a 6-and-4 win over Nelly Korda in the 2024 Solheim Cup singles, and a one-stroke victory over the world number one at the 2025 Kroger Queen City Championship.

Charley Hull Career Wins

Charley Esmee Hull has accumulated eight professional titles during her career, including three wins on the LPGA Tour and four on the LET. Her victories span events on three continents and include both individual and team-format championships on the LET, reflecting her versatility across tournament structures.

LPGA Tour Highlights

Hull’s three LPGA Tour titles are the 2016 CME Group Tour Championship, the 2022 Volunteers of America Classic, and the 2025 Kroger Queen City Championship. Her CME victory set a tournament record at 19-under-par and was the first of her LPGA career. The 2022 Volunteers of America Classic ended a six-year wait for an LPGA title, while her 2025 win at the Kroger Queen City Championship came after Jeeno Thitikul four-putted the 18th hole, allowing Hull to convert a tap-in birdie for the victory.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond her LPGA victories, Hull has won four times on the LET: the 2014 Lalla Meryem Cup, the 2019 Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open, the 2021 Aramco Team Series-New York, and the 2024 Aramco Team Series-Riyadh. She also finished runner-up on multiple occasions, including at the 2016 ANA Inspiration, the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2023 Women’s British Open, and the 2025 Women’s British Open.

Charley Hull Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Charley Esmee Hull was raised in Kettering, Northamptonshire, by her father Dave, a former plasterer, and her mother Basienka, who is of Polish descent. Her father introduced her to golf at Kettering Golf Club when she was two years old, and his early encouragement laid the foundation for her professional career. Hull has two half-sisters, one from each parent.

Personal Life

Hull married mixed martial arts fighter Ozzie Smith in Burton Latimer on 21 September 2019. The couple later divorced in 2021. She is best friends with fellow English professional Georgia Hall, whom she met when both were around eleven years old.

Off the course, Hull has a keen interest in fashion and has held associations with clothing sponsors such as Anew and Malbon Golf. In July 2023, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and stressed the importance of keeping her mind busy. She also disclosed in 2024 that she had been diagnosed with degenerative arthritis in her shoulder. Hull made a cameo in the 2025 film Happy Gilmore 2.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season has been one of the strongest of Hull’s career. She finished tied for fourth at the Women’s World Golf Championship in Singapore in March after leading by one shot through 54 holes, and recorded a fourth-place finish at the Women’s Irish Open in early July. The following week, she was forced to withdraw from the Evian Championship after collapsing during her opening round, but she recovered to finish tied for second at the Women’s British Open at Royal Porthcawl.

Her breakthrough of the year came at the Kroger Queen City Championship, where she won by one stroke over world number one Jeeno Thitikul after Thitikul four-putted the 18th hole. By September, Hull had risen to a career-high ranking of number five in the world, becoming the first Englishwoman to reach the top five since the Women’s World Golf Rankings began in 2006. She later represented the World team at the 2025 International Crown, where they finished third, and closed the year with a share of fourth place at The Annika.