Charley Hull Opens Up About Personal Life and Her Viral Moment

Women’s Golf Journal reports that Charley Hull’s official career prize money totals over $11.5 million. Among today’s LPGA Tour players, she ranks as one of the most successful due to this amount. She turned professional at age 16 and won Rookie of the Year in 2013. Her path to wealth involves nine professional tournament wins and major finishes. Hull also secured key equipment and apparel deals that add to her income stream.

The English golfer built her bank account through steady play and bold choices off the course. In 2019, she secured a contract with TaylorMade Golf, which she later renewed in 2022. Her reported commercial portfolio includes Rockstar Energy and Malbon Golf. These partnerships reflect her appeal beyond just golf, as noted by Women’s Golf Journal. Brands pay for her personality as much as her swing speed.

Personal Struggles and Public Growth

Hull has been open about her battle with ADHD and past struggles with substance use. She told Heavy Sports, according to Heavy.com, “I had a few stressful things going on in my life, and I got prescribed for some Xanaxes, and I felt like I was getting addicted to Xanaxes.” The golfer later stopped vaping and switched to smoking cigarettes to smoke less. She eventually decided to quit smoking entirely after a specific moment of clarity.

She explained her decision to stop, saying, “And then it comes to a day where I was very stressed and I was smoking a lot, and I thought you know what, that’s it, I’m done.” Hull made a bet with a friend and has not touched cigarettes since. She now uses nicotine pouches to help her cope. “Made a bet with my friend and I haven’t touched them (since) and that’s when I started the nicotine pouches and that’s helped me, (it) just helps me sometimes,” Hull added.

The Viral Moment That Changed Everything

A viral video of Hull smoking on the course actually boosted her popularity rather than hurting it. Her friends, Nelly Korda and Megan Khang, told her she had gone viral for smoking.

Hull admitted she did not realize the scale of the reaction until she checked her phone later. “I was like that’s crazy, I didn’t realize how big it was until I turned my phone on a few days later on my Instagram and I gained about 200,000 followers.” This surge in followers likely increased her value to active sponsors like Malbon Golf. The brand signed her in 2024 for an apparel deal. Her bold style now helps her stand out on the course.