THE ASCENDANT LPGA BENEFITING VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA

October 2, 2022

Charley Hull

Golf Clubs at The Tribute

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, here with Charley Hull, our 2022 The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America champion. It's been a while since your first win on the LPGA Tour. Is it true what they say that the second is the hardest to capture?

CHARLEY HULL: I think so, because it's been six years. Kind of knew it was coming because strange thing happened in 2016 when I won. My best mate James, he won the Wellingborough Golf Club Championship, and this year he's done the won his second club championship and he was like, this is your year, because you're going to win. You win every year I win.

I went out and won, so hopefully he wins the club champs next year.

Q. Awesome. Thank you, James, for that.

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah.

Q. Let's talk about your round today. The putter was just on fire for you it looked like. Is that the way you felt?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, putted well. Rolled it very well. I did feel like I left a couple out there coming in. Like on 15 and 16 I hit them very close and just went over the edge of the hole. That was just the grain keeping them out. I hit good strokes and felt confident. Been working hard on that with my putting coach.

So, yeah, it's been good.

Q. Tell us how you felt see Lydia Ko and Janet just chasing you.

CHARLEY HULL: It was fun. I actually enjoyed that. I really enjoyed that. I find stuff like that fun because it puts the pressure on me, and then I've got to commit and do it. You know what I mean? No, I really enjoyed that.

Q. When Janet made that eagle right there, what were you thinking?

CHARLEY HULL: You've got to kind of expect it. On the tee I thought, you know what, especially after holing the putt on the par-3 because that was a tricky putt that she holes, anything with happen. Yeah, it was -- didn't expect it.

Q. So coming up that stretch on 18, Janet had that long putt.

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah.

Q. What were you feeling just walking?

CHARLEY HULL: I felt good. I hit a nice 7-iron in. I didn't really like that shot into 18 all week, but I hit a pretty decent shot there just off the edge of the green. I don't know, about 17 feet I had.

I wanted to hole it, but obviously just slid by on the right but I was just out of the fringe, so took a little bubble. I can't even remember what I was thinking now because it was a bit of a blur.

Q. Yeah, this whole week this course has been so challenging for everybody. How did you manage that challenge and did you enjoy it?

CHARLEY HULL: I love a challenge, and this golf course is challenging. I play off the backs at home, off the back tees with the boys, and I always try and push myself to tricky golf courses at home so when I come on tour they're a bit shorter and a good length.

So this week I felt like it very much suited my game.

Yeah, I found it very scorable for myself.

Q. How did it suit your game specifically?

CHARLEY HULL: My irons is pretty good, and I'm not afraid of coming in with a long iron. I wasn't like going at my driver this week. Just three quarter drives down there. Like don't need to blast it. But when I did need to hit a big drive, like I think on the 14 hole, I got one right down there.

Apart from that, just putting them in the fairway steadily, and, yeah, just being patient and holding the putts and all my game coming together.

Q. You're a player that shows like no fear.

CHARLEY HULL: Uh-huh.

Q. What is it in your game or how much do your trust yourself?

CHARLEY HULL: I just think at the end of the day it's just a sport and you're not going to die if you hit a bad shot. Just good out there and have fun. That's basically what I do.

I get bored if I don't go for pins, and then I get bored I don't play as good. If I just go after pins, keep myself on my toes, make a few birdies, I get -- I find it interesting and exciting, and that's when I usually play my best golf.

Q. You're now the sixth English woman to have two wins at least on the LPGA Tour, joining Georgia Hall and some pretty impressive names. What does that feel like?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, feels really good, especially to see Georgia, she's like my best friend, on the 18th green, and she sprayed me with a bottle of champagne whatever it was. It's just really cool, especially after seeing her win the British Open and then in Portland a couple years ago.

Kind of Spurs you on and it's good how we can push each other, because we hang out a lot off the golf course, so it's good.

Q. You obviously hadn't won since 2016 and you're a person that doesn't focus on that too much.

CHARLEY HULL: No.

Q. How have you kept your patience up?

CHARLEY HULL: I've had some good results this year. Had a very similar season to my 2016 season, so I'm actually happy I've got a couple events left as well, because I felt like in the 2016 season if I had a few more I could have pushed on. Yeah, it's exciting.

But I don't really think too much. At the end of the day, it's just a game and you've got one life, go out there and enjoy it.

Q. This tournament is known for having a lot of Texas winners, Texas residents. Obviously probably not going to move to Texas, but how does it feel to join that list?

CHARLEY HULL: Exactly. It's pretty cool. I said to my sister last week, I need some cowboy boots. It's pretty good that I've won some, so that's handy. It's funny. The first time I came to America I played in Texas, the Te4xas Open. I think I was nine on ten years old, so it's good to be back. I have family and cousins in Galveston and Houston, so, yeah, it's pretty cool.

Q. You just it said, but having a few events left now, you think the floodgates will come open? You seem like you're going to go for more.

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, exactly. Well, got my confidence up and now I'm -- I can't wait to play more and hopefully get in more wins.

I feel like I know what it takes to win now. I kind of remembered myself. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it and I can't wait.

Q. What has changed in your game this season?

CHARLEY HULL: It's more mentally. Kind of like I feel in a good place off the golf course, and I've kind of surrounded myself with good, positive people, and I think that helps in your golf game as well, 100%.

Q. Last question from me. You've been on the phone with I assume your boyfriend, Charles.

CHARLEY HULL: Good friend of mine, yeah.

Q. Good friend. Sorry. Your family is probably up in England watching you.

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah.

Q. How excited are you to have that support and what have they been saying to you?

CHARLEY HULL: I haven't really been able to reply to anyone, but I replied to my mum and dad. They're so happy and it's good, but I can't wait to sit down and look through my messages and go through them. I'm flying to New York to play in the Gary Player Invitational tomorrow with a few of my friends, like Georgia -- sorry, Anabel and Lauren Taylor, so be nice to catch up with them and go home finally.

Q. Obviously they're staying up late to watch you. What does that support mean?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, that's really good. Mum and dad and everyone will be loving it, especially how my mum and dad are with watching me play golf. When they're on the edge of the sofa I know for a fact they'll be probably gritting their teeth. No, they love it.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much.

CHARLEY HULL: Thank you.