The strange injury Charley Hull suffered in a shower last month turned out to be more serious than first thought. The golfer admitted Tuesday that at age 28, she suffers from degenerative arthritis in her right shoulder.
The world number 11 admitted she should not have competed at the Evian championship, the French championship, where she missed the cut two weeks after her fall.
Hull then wisely took a break, making her first appearance at the Paris Olympics just two weeks ago, where she recovered impressively from an opening score of 81 to play the final three rounds in eight under par.
She built on that to finish fifth in the Scottish Women’s Open on Sunday and goes into this week’s Women’s Open on the Old Course as the clear Briton with the best chance. But her revelations in the media centre will inevitably cause consternation for the future of this brilliant ball-striker.
“I’ve had acupuncture and needles every other day,” Hull said. “I’ve really [acupuncture treatment] after this [press conference]. Because when it gets cold, it can flare up a little bit. I also have degenerative arthritis with it. So when it gets cold, it gets a little stiff. So just try to keep it warm.”
Who knows what will happen next and whether Hull will ever need surgery, which could range from minimally invasive arthroscopy to the worst-case scenario of a shoulder replacement. Fortunately, doctors say the condition can be treated with physical therapy and perhaps occasional cortisone injections to strengthen the muscles. For this week, though, it’s not a concern. “I’m healthy and ready to go,” Hull said.
She is unashamedly confident, and for good reason. Hull finished second in the Women’s Open last year – behind Lilia Vu, whom she will play in the first round on Thursday in the marquee group alongside world No. 1 Nelly Korda – although that was at Walton Heath, which is a beautiful layout but not a links.
She has never really thrived in the windy environment of seaside golf, but her coach, Matt Belsham, has recently been perfecting her knockdown shots and the improvement was clearly visible last week at Dundonald.
“I know my track record on these types of courses isn’t great, but I feel positive because I’m learning every time and enjoying it,” Hull said. “This is the home of golf and to win here would be really special and something you’ve dreamed of since you were a baby.”
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