Ever had one of those mornings where you wake up feeling absolutely terrible but still have to show up for work? Imagine having to perform at the highest level of professional sports while fighting off a stomach bug. That’s exactly what Charley Hull faced before stepping onto Sentosa Golf Club for the third round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship. When she later stepped to the microphone after delivering a bogey-free 4-under 68 to claim solo second place, few suspected the physical battle she’d waged just hours earlier. “I woke up this morning, and I actually was sick. I threw up, and then I kind of got my head together,” Hull revealed matter-of-factly, showcasing the grit that has become her calling card on tour.

For most, the act of throwing up at 5 AM would send us straight back to bed with a cold compress and a sick day request. However, elite athletes like Hull operate differently. Despite vomiting before sunrise, she didn’t retreat to bed or ease her schedule. Instead, she laced up her running shoes and hit the pavement, believing that movement might be the antidote to her ailment. “I actually did my personal best in my 5K run in 26 minutes, knocking another minute off. I was pretty happy about that. 30 seconds off, actually,” Hull shared, a hint of pride cutting through her otherwise casual demeanor. This impressive physical reset came after she had already revealed feeling tired following the previous day’s round, making her morning bounce back even more remarkably.

Interestingly, Hull’s 5K personal best connects directly to one of her biggest goals for 2025—to run a 5K in under 20 minutes.

When pressed about the cause of her illness, Hull brushed it off with characteristic nonchalance. “Just a little bit of a bug. I’m fine,” she stated, refusing to make excuses or seek sympathy. This response aligns perfectly with her longstanding philosophy that “pain is a weakness of the mind”—a mantra she’s referenced repeatedly throughout her career. At the 2024 Solheim Cup, Hull played through excruciating stomach cramps and body aches, later revealing she also managed degenerative arthritis in her shoulder after a shower fall. Even in late 2023, when hospitalized with salmonella and a 10-day COVID infection, she maintained the same stoic approach to physical challenges.

The English star’s matter-of-fact approach extended to her mindset on the course. “I kind of got my head together… That kept me in a good space for the rest of the day. Just went out on the golf course and played golf,” she explained, making a bounce-back performance after illness sound as routine as a morning coffee. While most players might credit their technical skills or mental game for such resilience, Hull’s bounce-back capabilities stem from an entirely different source—her unconventional fitness philosophy that often raises eyebrows in the golf world.

Fitness regimen fuels Charley Hull’s resilience

Hull’s unconventional decision to run 5 kilometers on the same morning she was battling illness reveals a cornerstone of her athletic philosophy. Unlike many of her peers who maintain strict dietary regimens between technical practice sessions, Hull has crafted a unique approach that blends rigorous training with life’s pleasures. “I don’t want to just be a golfer. I want to be an athlete. I train because it’s good for my mental health,” she once emphasized in an interview with Sky Sports.

The same competitor who posts about threshold runs and sled pushes also unabashedly shares stories of indulging in “loads of chocolate“ during trips to Bruges. This refreshing blend of discipline and enjoyment defines Hull’s approach to athletic excellence, enabling her to thrive despite managing degenerative arthritis in her shoulder, asthma, and ADHD alongside her professional career.

Her pre-round running routine, even while sick, is just the latest chapter in Hull’s fitness saga. After a disappointing tournament in late 2023, while other players headed to the practice range, Hull was spotted logging miles on nearby trails. Days later, she returned to form with a strong showing at the Aramco Team Series final in Riyadh, which she ultimately won. The numbers back up her approach—eight consecutive top-20 finishes across 2024-2025, five top-10s last season, and a climb to 9th in the Rolex Rankings. Her formula works despite conventional wisdom suggesting professional golfers should prioritize technical practice over generalized fitness. Hull’s third-round surge at Sentosa is simply the latest evidence that her athletic philosophy creates a sustainable path to excellence.

Hull’s performance at Sentosa Golf Club adds another chapter to her reputation for toughness. Whether her “pain is weakness of the mind” mentality can propel her to overcome both physical illness and Lydia Ko’s one-stroke advantage remains to be seen.