Charley Hull: Challenging At Women's World Championship Despite Illness

Charley Hull taking a shot at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Charley Hull admits she shouldn't have made the trip to the HSBC Women's World Championship after being in hospital last weekend.

Hull revealed that she spent time in hospital on Saturday with an unspecified illness that delayed her departure out to Singapore.

She opened the tournament with a 72 but then despite everything managed to shoot 67 to sit just four shots off leader Auston Kim heading into the weekend.

"I haven't felt like a hundred percent this week," said Hull after her second round. "I was meant to fly out on I think it was Saturday night and I couldn't fly because I was ill.

"So I flew out on Monday. Monday, so Tuesday so a quick turnaround. The heat gets to you but it's good."

When asked what exactly her illness was, Hull did not specify but did say that she was now over her problems.

"I just had some health issues," she added. "But I'm feeling a lot better now."

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As is the usual way with one of golf's biggest free spirits, Hull admits she should not have made the trip so soon after being ill.

But with a break in her schedule coming up, she didn't want to go too long without playing a tournament heading towards the opening women's Major of 2026 - the Chevron Championship in April.

"A hundred percent, I shouldn't have come here but I really wanted to play because I would have had four or five weeks off," said Hull.

"So I wanted to just come out and play anyway."

Hull had some health challenges last year, including back and ankle injuries along with collapsing on the course at the Evian Championship due to a virus.

She's started 2026 nicely though, with a fifth career LET victory at the PIF Saudi Ladies International earlier this month that saw her become the highest ranked Englishwoman ever at World No.3.

And Hull will hope for a clean bill of health in 2026 as with the form she's in a first Major title will be well within her sights.

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website. Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.

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