HULL FIVE BACK

“I played like a ten handicapper”……was Charley Hull’s reaction to her first six holes in the third round of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Hull’s putter was not working early in the round as she missed three putts from inside five feet to make bogeys on the first, third and sixth holes to be 3-over-par for her round, when she bounced back with birdies on the seventh and eighth.

“I missed three putts that I should have holed from like five foot in and I think they was — that would’ve kept me level par instead of being 3-over.”

The back nine started with a bogey on the tenth, but Hull pulled it together playing the last eight holes in 2-under par, with birdies at fifteen and sixteen, a final hole birdie attempt finished just shy for a level par round of 71 and she now sits at 2-under for the Championship five shots back for the final round.

“Then I did have a bit of a bounceback and I hit a great shot into the last hole and it looked like the putt was going to be kind of quick down that slope, so I hit it on a great line and just left it short.”

“But, no, I was pretty happy with the way I finished.”

Five shots back and Hull plans to go out and have fun on Sunday……… “I just want to go out there and enjoy it tomorrow. Not put much pressure on myself. Just go out there and have fun and trust my swing.”

Last round of the last major of 2026, maybe having fun will be the answer!

Photo: Charley Hull tees off on the fifth hole. (Photo by Kate McShane/R&A)