Charley Hull battled tonsillitis during the Solheim Cup and was bed-bound when she returned home to England. With so little prep coming in, the LPGA star thought about pulling out of the Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship but decided to simply lower her expectations.
Fast starts are key in a 54-hole event and Hull delivered with a 6-under 65. She trails China's Yu Liu by one at Pinnacle Country Club and holds a share of second with European Solheim Cup teammate Celine Boutier.
Hull's Solheim partner Lottie Woad added a 66 while a third Englishwoman, Caley McGinty, matched those efforts to take a share of fourth. For McGinty, it was the best kind of birthday present as she has only made $15,503 this season in six starts. It's an important
week to gain not only confidence and cash, but CME points too.
"I've had the best day ever so far," said McGinty, who turned 26. "Taylor Swift released new songs today as well. It's been a great day. Probably going to be shopping."
When asked if any adrenaline carried over from the Europeans' victory at Bernardus, Hull said it's more like a downer after last week's crash.
"This week," she said, "actually feels nice to come out on the golf course with not a whole load of nerves, if you know what I mean, that the Solheim Cup produces."
As for the celebration in the Netherlands, Hull said she went to the team room for some food and then headed to bed.
"My boyfriend was drunk, so I wanted to stay at the party," she said. "I was like, you can stay at the party instead of coming to bed with me. He was really drunk. A lot of the team was drunk. It was a great night."
With a number of Solheim Cup players in the field this week, the Euros had a team dinner on Wednesday in Arkansas. While Hull didn't make it, her partner did.
"Solheim was obviously an amazing week and we were all saying that we wanted to keep on getting together," said Woad. "I think maybe six or seven of us were playing this week, so we all got together couple nights ago and caught up and reminisced a little bit and it was great."
As the Arkansas stop celebrates 20 years, Razorback favorite Gaby Lopez opened with a 66. Current Arkansas standout Maria Jose Marin struggled to a 74.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf. Follow her on X/Twitter (@GolfweekNichols).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Charley Hull contends at LPGA stop in Arkansas, dishes on Solheim party
