Charley Hull has never been one to sugarcoat things. Whether it’s lighting up a cigarette after a birdie or brushing off criticism with a shrug and a smirk. It’s no secret that she has faced a backlash since she was captured during the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open when she was photographed signing autographs with a lit cigarette, an image that quickly went viral, but despite that, she remained unapologetic and stated to the LPGA tour media, “I only smoke. I hardly drink. I don’t need to drink because actually I can have a fun time without it.” But soon she realized this boldness of hers is not going to work here.
“Today, I’ve made a decision. I’m going to stop smoking. I’m going to give him 20 now, and I’m going to take 10 grand back if I don’t pick up a cigarette for the next two months. We’ll shake on that. Deal?” she posted a story on Instagram in March 2025. She did this to stop the controversy and the hate fans were sending her, hoping this move would silence the haters. But that did not really help; instead, it backfired on her.
Soon after, Hull posted a story in May. Hannah Rae mocked Charley Hull in a parody video by impersonating her with an exaggerated Australian accent and faking a press conference. She pretended to light cigarettes while claiming, “I’m not addicted,” and also joked that she started smoking at 11 months old. Rae also mimicked Hull’s attitude by ranting, “I don’t get why I’m a smoker… for f**k’s sake,” Yes, it was undeniably funny, and the video quickly went viral, for obvious reasons. Knowing Hull, did we really think she’d stay silent and let it slide? Not really.
Recently, at a press conference during the Riviera Maya Open held on May 21 in Mayakoba, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Hull stepped up once again to silence the noise around her. When asked if she sees herself as a controversial player, she replied, “I don’t know, really. I’m just myself. I think more people — I think a lot of people these days aren’t their self. Because they’re in the public eye, they have, like, a role to play.”
These days, a lot of celebrities tend to polish up their image by saying the right things, acting the right way, and basically trying to set their perfect image. But Hull? She’s not about that; she’s not trying to be anyone’s picture-perfect role model. What you see is what you get. “With me I’m just living my life the way I want to live it. Just true to myself. Just be myself really. Yeah, that’s what I say.” She’s unapologetically herself, which is raw and real. According to her, being real is what makes someone a controversial player and a laughingstock. But she is not only about her smoking habits; there’s another side to her: one that’s all about discipline, goals, and putting in the work on the fitness front.
Are fitness challenges the way to escape smoking?
“I love running as a hobby and for my fitness and my mind. The more fitter you are, the less jet lag you get and the more stamina you have.” Charley has said this multiple times in interviews and also posted this as a story on Instagram: she does not do golf training much; what relaxes her mind is running. It’s her key to stamina and a distraction from smoking. While the headlines often focus on her cigarettes, Hull’s been quietly logging miles and chasing personal records.
Charley Hull has set an inspiring goal for 2025. She said, “I want to try and get my 5K run time down to 20 minutes by the end of the year. It’s around 26 minutes at the moment.” Not only is she involved in running, but she also takes on other challenges. Last year, she participated in a Hyrox Sim event. Although she didn’t win, it shows her commitment to fitness.
Whether she’s still smoking, plans to quit soon, or lost the £20,000 bet—no one really knows. But one thing’s clear: her growing dedication to fitness might just be the key to finally kicking the habit.
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