Charley Hull chases down world No. 1 for first victory since 2019

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — The Long Island winds were howling on Saturday, but they were no match for Charley Hull. The Englishwoman fired a flawless seven-under 65 during the final round of the Aramco Team Series to chase down world No. 1 Nelly Korda and claim the individual crown by a shot.

The win is Hull’s first since 2019, and her first on American soil since 2016.

“I’m very happy,” she said. “Back in 2019 was my last win, so it’s good to get one under my belt again.”

Hull started the day four shots behind Korda’s 36-hole lead, but she quickly trimmed that deficit after teeing off just before 9 a.m. local time. The 25-year-old began the day with four birdies in a row and added another at the short par-4 8th. By the time she made the turn and the leaders were teeing off, Hull had inserted herself into contention.

“I could’ve probably birdied every hole on the front nine actually,” she said. “I had a chance on every hole inside 15 feet.”

The back nine did not feature quite as many fireworks, but Hull added a birdie at No. 13 to take the lead outright as gusts stymied the leaders on the front nine. When she reached the par-4 18th, a drive through the fairway left her with a delicate pitch up to the elevated green to try for one last birdie.

Instruction

Although the ball sat down in the rough, Hull played the shot to perfection, bounding the ball up onto the green as she chased after it to get the proper vantage point. By the time the ball stopped rolling, it was within three feet of the cup.

“I hit my shot perfectly,” Hull said. “I told my caddie, ‘I couldn’t have played it more perfect.’”

When her ball found the bottom of the cup, the 12-under figure next to her name represented the score to beat.

There was a spirited back-nine charge by Danielle Kang, and Korda made things interesting right to the end, but when the world No.1’s final birdie putt slid past the cup, Hull was a champion once again.

“It’s great confidence for the rest of the season,” Hull said.