It is just a measure of Charley Hull’s immense talent that within one year of becoming the Rookie of the Year of the Ladies European Tour, the 18-year-old is now contending for the Player of the Year honours.
Hull leads the Money List this season, racking up €247,616.69 in 16 starts. That’s almost €22,715 more than the second-placed Gwladys Nocera, who now has to finish inside the top-four at this week’s Dubai Ladies Masters – the season-ending championship of LET – to stand a mathematical chance of beating Hull.
The young Englishwoman is not taking any chances though, and despite the jet-lag of her long travel from the USA, she is planning to win the ‘Veiled Lady’ trophy to make sure there is no permutations involved on Saturday night as to who is the leading lady golfer of Europe is this season.
“I’d want to get another win in, because if I won the title, I’d win the Order of Merit,” said Hull, who started her professional career with five successive second place finish last year, before getting her first victory as a professional this year at the Lalla Meryam Cup in Morocco.
“I like the buzz of winning that week. That’s quite fun. I don’t know really…I just like winning, full‑stop.”
Hull, who represented Europe in the Solheim Cup last year and was absolutely sensational, finished tied eighth last year at the Dubai Ladies Masters to win her thrilling race for the Rookie of the Year title against Holly Clybrun.
And Hull is hoping to bring some of the same mindset from last year as she takes on Nocera. The two players are paired for the first two rounds, along with the defending champion Pornanong Phatlum.
“I have good memories from last year, because I played quite well and I won Rookie of the Year. So, hopefully, I can make it another good finish to the season,” Hull, who finished tied 28th at the LPGA Tour Qualifying School on Sunday, added.
“Last year, I wasn’t too fussed about the Rookie of the Year. And I think that was a good thing because when I won it, I was really happy I won it. I felt tricking my mind to take the pressure off me was actually quite a smart move.
Hull said she did not pay much attention to the history part of her achievement – she will become the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and the Player of the Year in successive seasons, although Spain’s Carlota Ciganda won both the honours together in 2012.
“I don’t necessarily think about the history bit going along, but after you achieve it, it’s good to look back and think, yeah, I’m really, really proud of doing that,” she added.
“I always wanted to win…win anything. But the Order of Merit would be special, especially only my second year on Tour.”
