Charlie Hull is a big golfer.
The British professional golfer, who made headlines in May when she was spotted with a cigarette in her mouth while signing autographs at the U.S. Women’s Open, opened up about her dating life in a recent interview. Daily Mail interview.
“I’ve dated guys who play golf and guys who don’t,” the 28-year-old says.
“It definitely makes it easier when they play because it’s also my spare time passion. If they don’t play, it’s harder for us to connect. I’ve been in celebrity relationships before but I didn’t love everything that comes with it, so for now I’m staying away from it.”
The two-time LPGA Tour winner and her ex-husband, mixed martial artist Ozzie Smith, tied the knot in 2019 but divorced two years later.
Hull, ranked 11th in the LPGA world rankings, is scheduled to compete in the women’s individual golf competition at the Paris tournament, which begins Wednesday.
After finishing seventh at the 2016 Rio Games and not competing in the 2021 Tokyo Games when they were postponed due to the pandemic, the British professional is excited to be competing in Paris, which she describes as “the right decision at the time”.
“It’s a dream come true to be able to compete in the Olympics,” she said, “and I’m looking forward to meeting new athletes that I may not have had the chance to meet before.”
For single athletes who say the demands of their golf careers mean they struggle to find time to pursue relationships, there’s no better place than the Olympic Village, jokingly nicknamed “The Villa” after the reality TV show “Love Island.”
“With practice and traveling, my time is really limited,” said Hal, who recently joined a new dating app called Rizz.
“Finding the time to meet and really get to know new people can be a struggle, so the people I connect with have to be open to that and be able to build a real bond over FaceTime or text,” she added. “With Rizz, my friends can give me real-time feedback and advice on who I’m chatting with.”
Hall, who is currently single, admitted to seeking dating advice from fellow professionals, including fellow countryman and close friend Georgia Hall, who is competing with her in Paris.
“We’ve known each other since we were 11 years old and grew up practicing together so it’s awesome to be able to play with your best friends,” Hull said.
The two have a proud history together on the course, most recently playing together at the 2024 Dow Championship in June.
Hull and Hall, who will be making their Olympic debut in Paris, are both members of the European teams that have won the past three Solheim Cups (2019, 2021 and 2023).
Unfortunately, Hull won’t be able to embody the spirit of PGA Tour star John Daly because smoking is banned at the Olympic venues in Paris.
But on the bright side, there are several single men in the Olympic Village, including some international golf stars.
