'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 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."
.@HullCharley making John Daly proud. 😂 pic.twitter.com/hmp7EaiKRrMay 28, 2024
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.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"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."
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."
"It lit up!" @HullCharley's got a whole pack of jokes 😂 pic.twitter.com/PF5lIuPEFBJune 2, 2024
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
-
Texas Children's Houston Open Leaderboard: Min Woo Lee Searches For First PGA Tour Victory As Scottie Scheffler Among Chasing Pack
The Australian sits at 17-under-par and four shots clear going into the final day at Memorial Park, with Lee searching for a maiden PGA Tour victory
By Matt Cradock Last updated
-
Ex-Prisoner And Australian Bike Gang Member Locks Up DP World Tour Card
Once imprisoned for assault, Ryan Peake went on to win the New Zealand Open earlier this year and has now wrapped up a DP World Tour card for 2026
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
T-Mobile Match Play Prize Money Payout 2025
Nelly Korda defends her title as a field of 64 competes for an eye-catching purse at Nevada’s Shadow Creek Golf Club
By Mike Hall Published
-
'I Left Actually A Good Four Shots Out There' - Charley Hull Shoots Career Best LPGA Round But Had A 59 On Her Mind
Charley Hull felt a 59 was on the cards as she shot a career-best 63 at the Ford Championship, but came off the course feeling she'd left at least four shots out there
By Paul Higham Published
-
Charley Hull Makes Driver Change Ahead Of Ford Championship 63
The World No.10 moved into the new TaylorMade Qi35 LS ahead of this week's Ford Championship in Arizona, where she got off to a fast start
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Champions Retreat Golf Club: ANWA Course Designed By Golf's 'Big Three' Legends
Take a closer look at Champions Retreat GC, just 15 miles from Augusta National with a unique design by golfing legends Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer
By Paul Higham Published
-
How To Qualify For The Augusta National Women’s Amateur
The Augusta National Women's Amateur is one of the jewels of the women's game, but how do players qualify?
By Paul Higham Published
-
Ford Championship Prize Money Payout 2025
It's the second Ford Championship this week on the LPGA Tour, where there's a $2.25m prize pot up for grabs
By Elliott Heath Published
-
'Shocked' Mimi Rhodes Claims First LET Victory In Fourth Start After Helpful Swing Change
A winner of the 2023 NCAA D1 Women's Golf Championship and the 2024 Curtis Cup claimed her second pro success at the Women's NSW Open on Sunday
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Report: Tour Player Features In Three LPGA Events Despite Not Being Qualified As Circuit Takes Action
One of the affected events was the HSBC Women's World Championship
By Mike Hall Published