LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Charley Hull typically deletes social media from her phone during major weeks. That’s probably for the best after the prank she pulled on her caddie went viral – and not in a good way.
In the run-up to the AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, Hull tricked longtime caddie Adam Woodward into thinking he’d won 100,000 pounds on a lottery scratch-off ticket, only to later tell him it was fake. Hull bought the ticket in a prank shop over in Blackpool.
Hull, who said she wasn’t aware of the backlash, said people who have a problem with it need to lighten up. When asked if she could roll back the clock, would she do it again, Hull didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, 100 percent.”
“He thought it was funny after. He’s
not uptight, like, it’s a joke,” she said. “If people don’t like it, they can lump it, do you know what I mean? I felt bad for Adsy, but at the end day, I’ve just got to have a good week and at the end of the week, I’ll buy him 100 scratch cards … hopefully he can earn more money than that as well this week, if we play well.”
The purse at the Women’s British Open is $10 million with a winner’s check of $1.5 million.
Charley Hull bought a fake lottery ticket in Blackpool last night and tricked her caddie into thinking he'd won $100,000!
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) July 28, 2026
"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
Most of the online backlash centered around the fact that Hull, who has made more than $12 million in career earnings, pulled the prank on a guy who works for her. Woodward said it was the first time the boss has ever pranked him.
“I don’t care, I think it’s funny, but revenge is going to be great,” he said with a smile. “I’m going to put a suggestion box at the front here, and any pranks of how I can get Charley back … I figure maybe getting the keys to her car and taking off in it and selling it on the black market for 100,000 pounds. Then she can deal with it.”
Hull, who opened with a 2-under 69, admitted that the nerves were cranking on the first tee at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, but not because of the prank.
“I was super nervous on the first tee. I was so nervous,” she said. “It's even more nerve-wracking when you're having to hit an iron because you have to strike an iron shot. .. I missed quite a few putts today that I felt I should have holed, but I felt like I stayed in there pretty well considering how nervous I was, because I feel there was a lot of pressure on me out there.”
A five-time runner-up at the majors, Hull is considered among the best players on tour without a major. The colorful Englishwoman trails former No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, who posted a bogey-free 64, by five shots.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior Golfweek writer covering the LPGA and women's golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Charley Hull on criticism about viral lottery caddie prank: 'They can lump it'
