Hull’s Near Miss and Stellar Round at AIG women’s Open
WALTON HEATH, ENGLAND – Charley Hull experienced a moment of alarm during the third round of the AIG Women’s Open on Saturday when a wayward tee shot from the fourth hole narrowly missed fellow competitor Minjee Lee, who was preparing to tee off on the 17th. Despite the scare, Hull recovered to post a 6-under-par 66, propelling her into contention for Sunday’s final round.
The incident,described by commentator Dame Laura Davies as “nearly took Minjee out,” saw Hull’s ball veer off course.Hull, though, quickly reassured observers, stating, “When I hit it, I shouted fore right, but I said hope it’s on the tee box and it was so, it was all right. I like Minjee. I wouldn’t want to take her out.”
Hull’s impressive round, which included 23 putts and three consecutive birdies after parring the fourth, placed her three shots off the lead as of 1:30 p.m. ET. She was tied for fourth place alongside Megan Khang and Minami Katsu, who carded a 65.
“I like hunting someone down,” Hull commented, reflecting on her position in the tournament. Her performance comes after a period of health concerns, including collapsing on a stretcher at the last major championship due to a virus and recently aggravating a back injury. These health issues led to weight loss and a decrease in swing speed during her recovery, making her strong showing at the AIG Women’s Open particularly noteworthy, especially given her previously stated dislike for links golf.
The strong showing by English players continued throughout the day. Georgia hall was tied for eighth at 4 under after a round of 68, while Mimi Rhodes was tied for 10th at 3 under. Rhodes expressed her gratitude for the home crowd support, stating, “It being so close to home, yeah, I’ve had so much family out here supporting and cheering for me. Honestly, it’s just been better than a dream come true.” Lottie Woad, another English competitor, shot a 71 on Saturday, placing her in a tie with Rhodes.
Fans can follow all the action from the AIG Women’s Open via the tournament’s live updates page.