In a world that’s desperate for authenticity, Charley Hull has no filter. On a tour that’s desperate for attention, Charley Hull can’t step up to the mic enough.
Like it or lump it.
Hull has tossed out that phrase many times over the course of her career, whether the topic is cigarettes or politics (see President Donald Trump state dinner at Windsor Castle) or pranks.
This week at the AIG Women’s British Open, 30-year-old Hull went viral for what many considered a cruel prank played on longtime caddie Adam Woodward. Hull bought a fake scratch-off lottery ticket at a prank store in Blackpool earlier this week and tricked Woodward into thinking he’d won 100,000 pounds. To pour fuel on the matter, she videoed the whole thing and posted it on her social
feeds.
Woodward and Hull don’t have a typical player/caddie relationship. She thinks of him like a brother. And Woodward insists he wasn’t bothered by it all. Thought it was funny.
On Thursday, Hull was asked if she’d seen the online backlash over the prank. She hadn’t, as she typically deletes her social media accounts during majors.
That’s when she first said that everyone needs to lighten up, and if they don’t like it, “they can lump it.”
On Friday, not long after Hull holed out for birdie from one of 166 bunkers at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Hull admitted to only sleeping for three hours the night before. When asked if the prank fallout impacted her, she said no. It actually fuels her.
“They actually make me want to do better because I think we live in a world where you can't do anything wrong these days,” she said. “Then it stops people from living the life they want to. I think I don't care. I just live me. My family and friends around me, we just live it how we want to. Our household, we got a lot of banter, and are always taking the mickey out of each other. It's just the way I've been brought up, and I think people just need to be a bit more tough-skinned.”
Charley Hull bought a fake lottery ticket in Blackpool last night and tricked her caddie into thinking he'd won $100,000!
"He's taken his hat off. He's taken his glasses off. He's literally running around the players lounge sayin', 'I've won $100,000. I'm taking today off.' His… pic.twitter.com/boZ2csdAGO— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) July 28, 2026
Hull even took it a step further, saying that those who are in the limelight would be silly not to expect negative comments.
“I think you see some people saying I really struggle from these comments,” said Hull. “They're almost looking for sympathy. I'm just like, imagine – you're in such a good position in life. There are people way worse off in life and you're moaning about what people are saying about you.
“I just think like, I don't know, grow a pair of balls and just forget about it, do you know what I mean? Because if that's the worst thing in life, people saying bad stuff about you, you really have not got life that bad.”
Hull credits some of that perspective to her Polish grandmother, whom she called “Babby,” a tough, ruthless woman who led a difficult life. Hull, by contrast, plays a game for a living and has made more than $12 million inside the ropes. She knows she’s fortunate.
After a second-round 71, Hull trails clubhouse leader Shiho Kuwaki by four strokes, still within striking distance heading to the weekend. To win this championship, her home Open, is the dream scenario.
Hull said she’d buy 100 proper scratch-off tickets for Woodward if they have a good week.
Probably a good idea either way.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Charley Hull says caddie prank fallout has fueled her play at AIG Women's Open
