'It Lit Up' - Charley Hull Explains Viral Cigarette Video And Vows To Quit

The two-time LPGA Tour winner and Solheim Cup star went viral on social media during the US Women's Open after being seen smoking cigarettes

Charley Hull smoking a cigarette during the 2024 US Women's Open
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Charley Hull went viral across social media last week when she was spotted smoking a cigarette while signing an autograph for a young fan.

The English star was then filmed and photographed smoking, or 'ripping a dart' as it was referred to online, throughout the week at the US Women's Open where she finished T19th and tied with Carlota Ciganda as low European at Lancaster Country Club.

Hull opened up about her habit on Sunday evening, revealing that she started smoking to quit vaping and pledged to stop soon as she hates it. 

"Yeah, it's actually quite funny. I don't know, all over a cigarette, I suppose. But I genuinely was walking to the range, had my hands full, someone asked me for an autograph, I'm not going to say no because I always like signing autographs," she explained on the video that went viral across social media last week.

"Had a cigarette in my mouth, signed it, and then it's gone viral."

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The videos instantly triggered John Daly comparisons, but she insists that she lives a very healthy lifestyle aside from the occasional cigarette - which she will be stopping "soon."

"I find it quite funny, because I actually do go to the gym and I'm a very healthy person. I only smoke. I hardly drink. I don't need to drink because actually I can have a fun time without it.

"Yeah, listen, my dad smokes 40 a day since he was 12 years old and now he's 75, and my nephew smokes who is like 25. My whole family smokes, so it's not something that I've noticed being odd.

"I hate smoking. I used to curse at my dad when I was younger for smoking, but I think it's to do a little bit when I'm stressed. I was a bit stressed last year and I just kind of vaped, and I wanted to stop vaping, and even though smoking is not better than vaping, it's just you can vape indoors all the time.

"I thought if I smoke, I'm going to go outside and smoke a cigarette. When it's a slow round on the golf course I smoke quite a few more than I should.

"But listen, I will stop soon. It's just when."

Charley Hull smoking a cigarette during the 2024 US Women's Open

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Thanks to the viral cigarette videos and images, Hull says she gained 70,000 followers on Instagram, but she hasn't been on the platform in weeks. The Englishwoman, who revealed her ADHD diagnosis last year, says she gets addicted to the social media platform so has taken herself away from it for the time being.

"At the minute I'm not actually on my Instagram. I put it on my agent's phone. I gave it to her like four weeks ago. I said, listen, I'll text you some videos, I'll text you some photos. Just post for me.

"I've gotten a very addictive personality and I get addicted to Instagram not even posting, but just scrolling down and looking at random memes and stuff.

"So the last few weeks I've just been letting her post, but she did tell me I gained like 72 or 70,000 followers in the space of like two days. I was like, wow. That's pretty crazy."

Hull is one of most popular, and best, players in the game and she managed to leave the press center in stitches with her final comment on whether she gained more attention this week for smoking a cigarette than for her Solheim Cup heroics.

"I think I did, you know. I really think I did. It was pretty crazy. Just one cigarette, it lit up."

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV