Charley Hull’s smoke alarm: golfer fears cigarette ban could hit Olympic hopes

How do you define a sport? Critics of golf during this perennial pub debate say anything you can smoke while participating does not meet the criteria. It transpires a golfer is not allowed smoke at the Olympics; just ask Charley Hull.

Images of Hull, cigarette dangling from her mouth, went viral during the US Open this year. This conjured memories of elite players from a bygone age. Hull went well in the tournament, posting a top-20 finish.

Hull will be back in the spotlight from Wednesday at Le Golf National, as the women’s golf tees off. There will be no repeat of her smoking as Hull dons Team GB colours.

“I do smoke on the course,” she said on Tuesday. “It’s a habit but I won’t do this week.” Pressed on why there will be no nicotine boost on the outskirts of Versailles, Hull said: “I don’t think you’re allowed.”

She is correct. Paris 2024 organisers have stipulated that all Olympic venues are non-smoking. In this context, Hull is treated no differently to those outside the ropes watching her play. Not that she appears totally satisfied by the rule. “I think it will,” said Hull when asked whether the ban will affect her. “Because it relaxes me a little bit.”

The 28-year-old is equally ambivalent towards the noise that was generated by the US Open. ““I haven’t gone on Instagram in about four or five months,” she said. “I don’t go on social media. I just let my agent do it.”

Georgia Hall joins Hull under the Team GB banner. The United States’ Nelly Korda, who won gold in Tokyo, is the hot favourite for the event.