Having been introduced to the game at just two years of age, England’s Charley Hull, has always had her eyes set on a path in professional golf. With six professional titles and a hefty Solheim Cup record, Charley exclusively spoke to Golf Digest Middle East as she looks back on the past decade as a professional.

Charley, if you were to look back to when you turned professional at just 16 years of age, what was the goal back then?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a professional golfer. I started playing when I was only two, and when I was a kid I just always wanted to try and get to World Number One, that was my goal from as far back as I can remember really. It still is to this day and that goal has never changed really.

It’s now 10 years since you broke into the winners circle as a pro. How much did that win in Morocco transform your career?
A lot! The victory in the Lalla Meryem Cup in 2014 was huge for more. In fact, so was the year previously. I had nine second-place finishes in 2013. But when I finally got that first win as a professional I did feel a huge relief. From then on, I just wanted to go get more trophies.

2014 Lalla Meryem Cup. LET

You then cracked it in the USA at the CME Group Tour Championship, was that another milestone ticked off?
100% it was. I think that first win in America was a big win for me personally. It actually gave me even more confidence that I could put into my game.

Another of your Ladies European Tour victories was at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi. How special is that venue to have your name etched into the history books?
It’s an incredible course. Designed by Gary Player so you know it’s good! That week was the first event of that season in 2019, so the win set me up perfectly for the rest of the year. The way I won it as well I’ll never forget. I had a really good up and down on the last hole out of the greenside bunker. It was probably one of the best ups and downs I’ve ever seen someone hit, and I hit it myself!

You’ve been on four winning Solheim Cup teams, what is it about those events that bring out the best in you and why do you love it so much?
I don’t know really, it’s tricky to describe. Obviously, in professional golf, we don’t honestly get to go and play a lot of team golf. It’s something you do a lot more as an amateur and growing up. That’s when I played most team golf and where I gained my friendship with Georgia Hall, through England Golf since we were 12 years old. We literally spent our whole amateur careers together. Now when we are paired together as professionals in team events such as the Solheim Cup, it brings back good memories of playing England Golf team events and makes us relax more being in familiar surroundings which we transfer into our performances in the Solheim Cup. You always want to play well for your teammates.

2023 Solheim Cup. Malcolm Mackenzie/LET

Do you feel you have been a trailblazer in developing women’s golf?
I don’t know really, because I don’t really look outside of my box if that makes sense. But when I’m at the Women’s British Open for example, you can see it. You look at all the fans, and there’s a huge amount of young female kids watching. A lot more than when I was in their position. So maybe girl golfers like myself and Georgia actually are growing the game in England. Obviously, Dame Laura Davis did it for us, she was someone that I looked up to loads when I was getting into the game.

Onto your equipment, you are a member of team TaylorMade. What makes them fit perfectly within your game?
I have actually played TaylorMade blades from the age of nine, up until the age of 14. So I’ve always loved TaylorMade clubs. They have always been my favourite club. So going back to them and being part of the team with everything they do, their service is just unbelievable. I always love their clubs when they come out, there is never too much of a change so they aren’t tricky to get used to. Adrian who works for them, he’s a top guy who fits my clubs. He’s just great and I have a great relationship with him.

And you have recently started a partnership with Malbon, a very stylish brand. What drew you to them and what do you love about them?
They approached me and my team about it actually. I looked at their Instagram page and their website and I automatically really liked their clothing, it’s just so nice. Stephen and Erica Malbon who founded it are super nice. They were involved in the recent promo shoot I went to the States for and they made it all so relaxing and nice. I can’t wait for the future with them.

How do you plan the rest of the 2024 season?
Just keep on pushing is the main thing. I do have some other goals in my head, but those are things I’m not going to share with anyone. Some people might see it as a bit different, but hopefully, I can smash these goals myself.

Main image: Mark Runnacles/LET