It’s not every day a pro athlete quits smoking with £10,000 on the line, but then again, Charley Hull isn’t your typical athlete. Hull posted an Instagram Story handing over her cigarette pack and shaking on a bold deal, which was, “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?” The “him” she was referring to is fellow golfer Ryan Evans, and what started off like a casual, slightly cheeky video ended up becoming a serious promise. This wasn’t in her books, but the move came after weeks of backlash she faced.
Photos of her signing autographs with a lit cigarette at the U.S. Women’s Open had gone viral, and fans weren’t exactly cheering. So she thought if she made this deal, it would silence all the haters. But that bet? It turned into a full-blown internet obsession. Fans went wild over her post, and from that point on, her comment sections had one main theme—”Did you win the bet?” or “Did you lose the £10k?” popping up under nearly every photo. Some took it a step further, turning it into comedy: “Can smoke 5 cigs each mile and make a mill a year. Beast!” It became a running joke online. All eyes were on her to see whether she will break the silence and tell the results to fans about her famous bet.
She indeed did break the silence. In a recent episode of the No Laying Up podcast, when asked if golf makes her bored, she casually dropped the line, “I quit about two months ago.” Just like that, confirming what fans had been dying to know since the day, while she did not specifically share that she has won the bet, this is a big enough hint for the fans. Hull opened up about what originally got her into smoking, saying, “When I started smoking, that kind of, like, that’s one reason why I used to smoke, because it just used to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 a bit of time. Do you know what I mean? Just like, relax.” So basically boredom and passing time were the reasons that got her into smoking. For her, it wasn’t about the habit itself but more about finding a moment of calm in a busy life. That’s where running came in a way for her to find peace without reaching for a cigarette.
“I get bored with everything I do in life, like I find things quite boring, and I can get quite agitated, but I just feel like when I run, I just switch off. It, like, really helps mentally.” Hull wants to say that she often feels bored and restless with many things in life, which can make her agitated. But when she runs, it helps her “switch off” mentally and relax. Running calms her mind so much that it blocks out cigarette cravings, making it easier for her to avoid smoking. But one smoking habit cannot define her whole career; it’s not fair considering how hard she works.
Charley Hull is much more than her smoking habit
While the headlines often focus on her bold attitude, viral moments, or even that cigarette, there’s a whole other side to Charley Hull that rarely gets the spotlight. She’s an all-rounder, someone who thrives on activity, from intense training sessions to outdoor hikes that she regularly shares with fans. Staying active hasn’t just helped her quit smoking; it’s a huge part of her lifestyle.
Off the course, Hull also wears her heart on her sleeve when it comes to her family. At a recent press conference, she gave fans a glimpse of her softer side, saying, “If I achieve my goal this week and at the U.S. Women’s Open, I promise that — oh, I’ll buy my new nephew whatever he wants.” Beyond the fearless competitor is someone who’s grounded and a family person.
And let’s not forget her game; Hull remains one of the most successful players on tour. With three Ladies European Tour (LET) wins and two LPGA Tour victories, her career speaks louder than any controversy. Whether she’s lighting up the leaderboard or just being her unfiltered self, Charley Hull has that vibe, the kind fans can’t help but root for.
