Every athlete has their own thing that helps them relax. For some, it’s yoga; it’s meditation; but interestingly, in LPGA superstar Charley Hull’s case, it’s smoking. The golfer garnered a lot of attention at the Women’s US Open for smoking while signing autographs, and ever since, questions about her peculiar habit have been in the news. In the past, she has described this habit as a way of seeking calmness.

In Paris, when asked if being unable to smoke at Le Golf National would bother her, she said, “Yeah, I think it will. Because it relaxes me a little bit. But it is what it is.” Now, ironically, her calming agent has been proven bad for her health.

It all started at the 2016 UL International Crown, where Hull experienced a severe asthma attack, which forced her to miss a day of competition. She reported feeling unwell at a sponsor dinner and woke up the next morning struggling to breathe and with a fever. She revealed that doctors had put on a mask with medicinal inhalants to help her breathe better. That’s not all. During the 2023 AIG Women’s Open, Hull was seen struggling with asthma again.

Just as Hull was on the verge of winning the title, two Extinction Rebellion protestors suddenly stormed onto greens and released colored smoke, which filled the air with red and yellow dust. One can imagine how scary that must’ve been for the golfer, and to make things worse, she didn’t have her inhaler with her. “What a bunch of idiots! I suffer from asthma, but I didn’t have my inhaler on me, and that stuff was really thick, so no, it was not nice,” said Hull, according to the Telegraph.

Asthma is not the only dreadful disease that Hull suffers from. In 2023, she was also diagnosed with ADHD, and most recently, it is an arthritis scare that has her tensed.

Charley Hull’s health over the years

Charley Hull has opened up about her diagnosis of severe ADHD. After taking a four-week break to address her mental struggles, in 2023 Hull returned to compete and achieved a tie for second place at the US Women’s Open. “I know my triggers now because I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD quite severely,” she said, according to the BBC.

As per Hull, her diagnosis has helped her understand her triggers and behaviors. She explained that her ADHD affects her ability to focus and causes impatience, but she did find ways to manage it. “I find it hard to concentrate, but I’ve found my triggers now, and looking at the views of the ocean last week was pretty good.”

Not only ADHD, but Hull recently came forward with her struggles with degenerative arthritis. Degenerative arthritis is a disease in the cartilage of joints that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. The golfer gave away the details of her disease during a press conference at the 2024 AIG Women’s Open: “My shoulder just got a little bit tight, so I had acupuncture and needles in it every other day.” While degenerative arthritis is a common disease among young athletes, it can cause hardship if the golfer is not treated properly.

Do you think this will jeopardize Hull’s performance in future games? Let us know in the comment section below!