‘Minding My Own Business’ Charley Hull Sheds Stark Reality Behind How Smoking Stole Her U.S Women’s Open Spotlight

Charley Hull attracted the golf world’s attention at the U.S. Women’s Open but for all the wrong reasons! A day before the U.S. Women’s Open started, Hull’s name was brimming at the top of headlines because of her John Dalyesque moment at the range. If you have forgotten, the Englishman was captured smoking a cigarette without using her hands while signing some autographs.

Many did not expect Hull to be smoking and quickly voiced their disapproval of her actions. A few days after the blown-up incident, the 28-year-old graced the Fan Le Batard show, relived the moment, and discussed how everything unfolded.

Charley Hull shares the commonality cigarette has been for her

At the Fan Le Batard Show, Charley Hull was jokingly told by the co-host, Stugotz, that a Dungey garage to smoke a cigarette might be a great place. Hull quickly understood the exact moment that the host was referring to, she laughed and said, “I can think of a lot of better places to smoke a cigarette including the U.S. [Women’s] Open.” Now that the smoking incident had started, Hull then explained her part about the whole fiasco.

The two-time LPGA Tour winner said, “Everyone smokes in England, probably on the golf course in the casual game but not in the U.S. Open. But it was pretty made, really, how it all kind of took off. I was just minding my own business.” Narrating the story further, Hull remembered that she was walking from the clubhouse of the Lancaster CC to the range and her hands were full when someone asked for an autograph.

The LPGA Tour star stated, “I’ve never turned down an autograph” so while she was on her last cigarette, Hull decided to go handles and just put it in her mouth as she signed a few autographs for the fans waiting. Someone clicked her there and it went viral right away. With how much praise and criticism it garnered, Hull said, “It actually got more publicity about it than shooting a 6 under in the U.S. Open last year.”

The moment was one of a kind, as rarely a professional player, barring a few exceptions such as Arnold Palmer or John Daly, would be seen publicly smoking a cigarette, and that too at a major championship. While many called out Hull’s behavior wrong, was she punished by the USGA or the LPGA Tour?

Was Charley Hull penalized for smoking at the U.S. Women’s Open?

The USGA released a fan guide before the commencement of the U.S. Open, including a ton of do’s and don’ts they should follow. But it did not include any rules for smoking. Moreover, the USGA does not have any conduct policy rules about professionals smoking, as many representatives were beside Hull while she was smoking.

So on that front, the USGA did not penalize Hull for smoking. But did the LPGA Tour? There too, the women’s circuit did not have strict rules that prohibited the golfers from smoking. Thus, in the end, the English pro was spared from any repercussions. After all, Hull was smoking in her free time and it was not during a competitive round.

Nonetheless, Hull had explained herself enough and why she was smoking. Were people still offended by her actions? Yes. At the upcoming KPMG PGA Championship, will Charley Hull dare to smoke again? It remains to be seen.