Beware the injured golfer? Well, not quite. In Charley Hull’s case, that auld adage needs to be changed to the sick golfer.
Ahead of this week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, Hull went into so much detail about her recent virus, the golf writers could’ve scribbled an authoritative essay on the subject for The Lancet medical journal.
It was no laughing matter, of course. The effects of her ailment caused her to collapse during the opening round of the Amundi Evian Championship earlier this month and led to her withdrawal from the women’s major.
Cold sweats, aching joints, dizziness, a temperature that was through the roof, low blood pressure? You name it, Hull had it.
“I was on my 12th hole and in the bunker and I had to sit down for a minute because my eyesight went and my hearing went,” explained the 29-year-old.
“I got up, hit my bunker shot, finished the hole then walked to the next tee. I called the medics and before I hit my tee shot, my knees gave way and I collapsed.
“I got back up, hit my shot then walked off the tee and I don’t really remember anything after that. My caddie said my eyes rolled to the back of my head and I was out for over a minute.
“Every time I stood up, I fainted. It was scary. A security guard and the medic caught me just before I was about to hit my head on a concrete slab. That’s why I had to get stretchered out.”
Hull looked in reasonable fettle as she blethered away to the media at Dundonald although the Solheim Cup mainstay reckons she’s still only “80 per cent” fit.
“I’ll take my time out there this week,” added Hull, who finished fifth at Dundonald 12 months ago. “You probably won't see me strolling 30 yards ahead of everyone like I usually do. I’ll probably be 30 yards behind everyone, but I'll get it done.
“It’s been a bit frustrating. I was practising last week, and it felt like all the feelings had gone out of my swing.
"The best way to describe it would be like when you have a hangover and the next day your hand-eye coordination is out.”
Being devout disciples of the temperance movement, the golf scribes wouldn’t know anything about that, Charley.
Anyway, Hull is here and ready for an assault in a domestic showpiece that has attracted another terrific field.
The line-up is headlined by the world No 1, Nelly Korda, who is competing in the Women’s Scottish Open for the first time.
A warm welcome? “I’m cold,” shivered the Florida resident with a wry smile. Or was it a grimace?
After a barnstorming 2024 campaign, which saw her win seven times during a glory-laden campaign, Korda is still seeking a breakthrough this season.
“Obviously, I would’ve loved to have lifted a couple of trophies by now,” said Korda, who has two seconds in 2025 including a joint runner-up finish at the US Women’s Open.
“But it's golf. You never know what's going to happen.”
Korda is only 26 but has been out on the tour for almost a decade. She’s not quite ready for the senior circuit but the years do hurtle by.
“I definitely feel like a bit of a veteran out here,” added the two-time major champion. “I see some girls who are born in 2004, 2003 and I'm like, ‘oh, my gosh’.
“But I'm still enjoying it as much as I was in my rookie year.”
For Scottish rookie, Hannah Darling, the journey is just beginning. The 21-year-old, who accumulated a vast haul of silverware in the amateur scene, confirmed her move into the paid ranks the other day and makes her professional debut here at Dundonald.
Her Curtis Cup team-mate, Lottie Woad, also makes her first start as a pro and will be hoping it’s business as usual. Woad’s performances in professional events while still an amateur have been sensational.
She won the Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour by six shots at the start of July and flirted with major glory at the Evian Championship before finishing third.
Woad’s feats have certainly given Darling plenty of food for thought. “Lottie is incredible,” said Darling of her GB&I sparring partner.
“But the really cool thing for me is that I feel she is not far away from where I’m at.
"She does a lot of things really well but, at the same time, she doesn’t do other things any better than I do. It makes me feel confident about the next step.”
Darling will be hoping to step out in style at Dundonald.
