Charley Hull is making her return to LPGA play, and while she’s feeling better, the English star still isn’t completely out of the woods.
Golf fans can let out a sight of relief as the popular golfer is making her return for the Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links. It’s Hull’s first tournament since she had to withdraw from the Evian Championship in mid-July.
Hull was at the center of an unnerving scene in France when she collapsed twice on the course during first-round play. Eventually, Hull made the sensible and only real decision she could at that point and WD’d from the major. Ultimately, Hull’s team revealed she was dealing with some sort of virus, but specific details have been hard to come by.
Charley Hull Reveals Scary Details of Recent Illness
“I woke up (that Thursday morning) really dizzy. Hot and cold sweats, no energy,” she recalled in a pre-tournament press conference, as seen on the tour’s website. “I got through about 12 holes and was actually playing really solid golf … I felt really dizzy. I was in the bunker hitting a shot, and I just had to sit down for a minute because my eyesight went and my hearing went.
“I don’t know if anyone’s ever fainted before, but if your eyesight goes and your hearing goes, it gets all muffled. So I sat down, (then) got up, hit my shot and actually made birdie. Walked to the next tee, and called the medics. My eyesight went again, and my hearing went and my knees gave way. I collapsed and fainted. Then I got back up, hit my tee shot and (wanted to keep playing) … walked off the tee box, 20 yards off — I don’t even remember this — and my caddie said my eyes rolled into the back of my head, and I was out for a minute. The medic caught me just before I was about to hit my head on the concrete.”
Hull tried to get back up but kept fainting, which led to her being stretchered off and withdrawing from the tournament. In addition to the typical symptoms, she said her blood pressure and blood sugar were both a little low. Hull wondered whether it could have been COVID, but it also doesn’t sound like an official diagnosis was made or discovered.
Regardless, Hull says she’s still not totally back to full strength.
Hull Taking It Easy in Return to Course
“I’ve just had no energy since then really. Still don’t 100% now, maybe 80%,” Hull said, while also noting she hasn’t been able to go the gym in two weeks and would have to wait another two weeks before resuming those workouts in order to allow her immune strength to get where it needs to be.
Despite the uncertainty and lack of full strength, Hull said she’s ready to go and is happy to be back on the course, especially after the downtime.
“At the end of the day, I play golf because I love it,” she added. “And I actually love the pressure. I get very bored if there’s no pressure going on in my life. So I still want to feel the pressure.”
Popular LPGA Star Gives Unsettling Update in Return from Mysterious Illness