2024 AIG Women's Open: Charley Hull rallies to stay in contention

Charley Hull demonstrated resilience and determination on the second day of the AIG Women's Open, managing to stay in contention despite a challenging round. Hull, who ended the day just three shots behind the current leader Nelly Korda (-8), reflected on her performance with a mix of satisfaction and acknowledgement of missed opportunities.

"I actually thought I hit it just as well as yesterday," Hull remarked, "but I missed a few short putts early on." Hull's struggles on the greens were evident, as she noted several missed putts within four feet, including a two-footer on the 10th hole, her first of the day. The challenges continued with a three-putt on the par-5 and another short miss on the 2nd hole.

Struggling with the pace of the greens

One of the key factors affecting Hull’s putting was the pace of the greens. She mentioned that the greens felt slower than the previous day, which, combined with residual moisture from the rain overnight and first thing this morning, made the surface skiddy and challenging to judge. "It kind of got in my head a little bit," she admitted, though she was able to regain her composure and find her stroke as the round progressed.

Despite these difficulties, Hull remained optimistic, especially as she adjusted to the conditions in the back nine. "When the wind picked up, I felt like I putted better," she said. Hull highlighted the importance of adapting to the wind, which affected both her putting and approach shots.

Hull recognised the challenge posed by her competition and playing partners, Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu, noting that while she felt she was hitting the ball just as well as Korda, the difference came down to putting. Hull also praised Vu’s scrambling ability, especially in windy conditions.

Hull will build on previous experience

Reflecting on her past experiences and growth as a player, Hull noted the differences in her game compared to the last time she played the course. "Back then, I was just real young... I didn't really know how to play links golf too well," she said. Now, with more experience, Hull approaches the game with a deeper understanding, especially when it comes to managing the unique challenges of links courses.

Hull’s ability to "dig deep" and enjoy the challenge of rallying after a difficult start is a testament to her maturity and mental toughness. She expressed frustration over early bogeys on what she considered some of the easiest holes but emphasised the importance of staying patient and grinding through tough conditions.

Heading into moving day

As Hull heads into the weekend, she remains focused and prepared, even after a quick turnaround from the previous night’s late finish and an early start the next morning. She plans to spend the afternoon working on her pace putting and hitting the gym, eager to maintain her form and contend for the title.

With two rounds to go, Hull is very much in the mix, carrying the lessons from last year and a firm resolve to tackle the weekend’s challenges head-on. "You've just got to grind it out out there," Hull said. There's no doubt that she will come back more determined than ever on Saturday afternoon.

View the full AIG Women's Open leaderboard here.