It was not a pleasing start to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship for Charley Hull. As the were clubs left behind! The Englishwoman arrived in scenic Sammamish, Washington State, without her precious golf bag. After asking British Airways for some help, Hull was finally reunited with her well-curated golf bag and was elated to start the second major of the year.

However, when this issue was resolved, another tragedy struck the Kettering native. Hull, already feeling under the weather and having bad stomach cramps before the opening round started, has encountered one more physical dilemma that might leave her weak at the Sahalee Country Club.

Charley Hull shares what went wrong at the tail end of round 1

After the opening round at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Charley Hull shared how the Thursday round went for her. The two-time LPGA Tour winner was quite satisfied with the scores and said at the press conference that it “Started off pretty well,” describing her first 18 holes at Sahalee CC. Hull explained the highlights of her round, starting at the 10th tee, where the English pro missed a 7-foot birdie chance after taking a good drive.

However, making a quick recovery on the 11th hole, Hull putted a birdie to be 1 under in just two holes. Following the blistering start, the 28-year-old made another birdie at the par 3 13th and then faltered a bit at the rest of the holes. Hull made a bogey on the 6th hole and followed with the last birdie of her round at the 7th. She later expressed at the press conference, “Sorry, guys, I’ve completely forgot my round,” as she had difficulty recalling it.

Notably, Hull looked drawn and visibly tired at the presser, as her mind was more focused on an injury she had sustained during the first round. Summarizing her round in a few words and detailing the said injury, Hull stated, “I felt like I played pretty well out there. Hit it pretty well. Pulled my hip out with like three holes to go, so I need to get some physio because it was affecting my swing. Hopefully, they can sort it out for me.”

Regardless of the discomfort, Hull has been just two strokes off clubhouse leader Lexi Thompson as she takes the T4 position with 2 under 70. And although the injury might strike as a hurdle that needs to be healed soon, Hull has an advantage at the Sahalee Country Club, which may aid her amidst the uncomfortable injury.

Sahalee CC feels like home to Charley Hull 

As the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship week started later for Charley Hull than everyone else, the English pro had only a day to examine Sahalee Country Club, where she finished 16th eight years ago. Though it was a nightmarish start at first, Hull has found her home at the Sammamish course.

The Kettering native felt that the tree-lined Sahalee was just like the Duchess Course in Woburg, where Hull frequented for practice. Given the familiarity, the 28-year-old pro said, Sahalee CC “Just makes me feel like I’m at home,” and she expressed that she loved the tree-lined course because it offers more control over shot placement than at courses with more water hazards.

Hull has been trailing behind at the LPGA Tour 2024 season, as she has not won on the American women’s circuit in nearly two years. Furthermore, she has still to earn her first major title. But at Sahalee CC, things might work in Hull’s favor and gift her, the first major title of Charley Hull’s career.