Charley Hull: Teenage Tigress

-RADIO:

-'..Sitting next to me and we are broadcasting...'

I flew to Malaysia and I flew back home for a week.

Flew back to China. Flew back home for a couple of weeks.

Flew back to India and then flew to Dubai.

Home, Australia.

'..Representing Europe - Charley Hull.'

From like seven or eight,

I really noticed that I wanted to be world number one.

You know, as you do, like a kid, you just say it,

probably you don't actually mean it. It's just something that you say.

Later on, I thought, "Ah, I'm actually quite good at this."

So, here I am now.

6,000 miles from home

and a world away from the life of a typical 18-year-old.

Charley Hull and her dad, Dave, are in California

for the biggest tournament in women's golf.

You don't really have the time to see stuff like this

because you're concentrating on your golf, you know?

But it's nice to see some places.

Yeah, we don't have much time for, you know, sightseeing,

but that's the way Charley is.

She gets to a place and then she focuses on her golf.

Charley is one of the most exciting sporting talents

to come along in recent years.

For nearly a decade, we've been following the story

of a little girl with a big personality.

I'm just me. It's not fake. It's just I say what I see.

Erm, people that don't like me, they can lump it, you know?

I'm not bothered, but hopefully, if they like me, that's good. Thanks.

Thanks if you like me.

Hey, welcome to my home. This is where I live with my mum and dad.

Lovely to see you.

She's a world-beater. There's no question about that in my mind.

She's on the threshold of greatness now.

That's a wonderful shot.

This is where everything started, in this garden,

where me and my friend used to practise in his garden.

We used to stand on a football here,

balance on it on one leg or whatever,

and try to chip into the tree with these plastic golf balls

and try to hit the branches into the tree. Sometimes, we'd hit it

and sometimes, it'd fly into the other garden.

But those were the little tricks we used to get up to.

I can't believe the golf clubs I used to play with are so tiny.

You know, I played with, I think I played with this one at Turnberry

when I was about nine or something, or one like this anyway.

I can't believe how whippy they are and everything.

It's amazing how much I've grown over the past couple of years.

Charley was just nine years old

when she stunned the golfing world.

She beat 24,000 women of all ages

to become the amateur national champion.

I feel quite proud of myself and a bit cold

cos I've never played on a golf course like this.

I haven't...haven't... It's a links course, it is.

And it's completely different to a normal golf course.

I just wanted to be the best,

so I just kind of practised and practised and practised

and here I am now. I don't think, "Oh, when I was younger..."

It just feels like I've gradually just got here throughout the years.

Representing Europe, Charley Hull.

WILD APPLAUSE AND CHEERS

Fast forward just eight years and Charley was part of a European team

taking on America in the Solheim Cup.

Charley made history.

Not only did she help Europe win

for the first time on American soil,

she was also the competition's youngest ever player.

Charley only turned professional 12 months ago.

It was a remarkable first season.

She won rookie-of-the-year

and was runner-up in five tournaments in a row.

This year, she went one better.

Claiming her first title in Morocco.

I felt really good holeing that putt. It's the best feeling ever,

but I've been dreaming so long about winning a tournament.

I knew I was going to win it one time and when I won, I didn't...

it didn't feel as good as I thought it was going to feel,

so I just want to win more.

This is Kettering Golf Club

where Charley's journey began

with her dad 13 years ago.

And where she still comes to practise.

In the school holidays, she'd come down early in the morning.

I'd drop her off and she'd play a round.

And then they'd go over the trees over there

and they'd play a Ryder Cup.

So they used to put the balls down

and have to try to get it over the tree, you know?

They used to have play competitions within competitions

if you know what I mean.

It was fun.

It wasn't what score, it was what shots they could hit

and they used to experiment, her and the boys, hitting different shots.

And having a game, you know, without a par, it doesn't matter.

They'd just be in the trees

and seeing what trick shots they could get out.

And they used to have great fun doing that.

Charley's early natural ability

was soon clear for all to see.

She could just pick a golf club up

and even if she weren't swinging it right,

her hands were so good to correct it

that she used to be able to hit it and shape a shot.

It's just a gift.

What was she like as a young girl?

She was very mischievous.

Always asking questions.

Very inquisitive.

Very bubbly.

Sometimes, I thought she was very naughty.

Chase her around the room.

A lovely child.

A lovely child... with a killer swing.

Charley's success soon won national attention.

Please welcome Charley! Woo hoo!

Give me some. Give me some.

All right!

I'm joined in the studio by national golf champion, Charley Hull.

She's with us! Hi, Charley.

And now people at home might be watching,

thinking you're very young to be a champion. How old are you?

Just nine.

Put your hands together for Charley Hull.

Congratulations.

Shouldn't you be in bed by now?

Well, I should, but...

so what?

That's the kind of attitude that makes a champion.

Here you are, age nine, what are your ambitions?

Erm...

To be a... Well...

What's ambition mean?

AUDIENCE LAUGHS

I'm competitive in everything I do from...

If I was trying to tie my shoelaces against someone,

probably I'd be competitive there,

to hitting the golf ball.

-RADIO:

-'We've got a great show planned for you today

'and we are broadcasting from the Kraft Nabisco Championship.'

Charley's come to California to play in the first major of the year.

She'll be up against 100 of the world's best players

and after her success in the Solheim Cup,

she already has fans in the States.

I love golf. I love being out there in front of a big crowd of people.

I love the feeling of pressure as well.

That's the one thing I've always loved.

The feeling of, you know, having to pull it off,

or you're going to be embarrassed in front of a lot of people.

We are actually in the entertainment business

because people pay to watch us and people get a buzz out of it.

Good luck to you and your beautiful daughter.

Cheers, thank you.

And we'll sort of keep an eye on you guys.

OK. We'll see you out there.

OK. Good.

First on the team from England,

Charley Hull.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERS

When she's not criss-crossing continents,

home for Charley is here with her family

on the outskirts of Kettering in Northamptonshire.

And I thought if I have a wand,

I might be able to make the dog speak, but it never worked.

He just growled at me.

'Team Hull, it's er...two sisters, her mum and her friends.'

Charley said you ate all of them.

Yeah, yeah, and who's ate the rest of them?

'To them, Charley's not a golfer. Charley's Charley.

'They're all the same. They're three girls.

'They look at her as Charley

'and, especially Nicole,

'if Charley gets beyond herself,

'Nicole'll tell her.'

She's very much like her mum.

-I'm on a diet, so I won't be able to eat any.

-Oh, don't be silly!

Cos someone on Instagram the other day told me I looked fat.

-So I've...

-What?! Who told you that?

-Don't know, some follower.

-Don't listen.

'She always wanted to do what she wanted to do.

'If I wanted her to be dressed in a way, or do her hair in a way

'or said, "Do this," she would not do it. She had to do it her way.'

So where does that stubbornness streak come from?

I think, definitely, from Dave's side.

Must be because my other daughter was fine.

He says it comes from you.

Really? Oh, I don't see myself that way.

Gravy's good, Bas.

'Charley gets her competitive streak from her mum.

'Her mum's so competitive, even having a game of cards.'

She wants to win and little horns come up like a devil.

She really wants to win.

Oh, I love Dr Who! Yeah.

I want to be in Dr Who one day.

Yeah, I'd like to be his assistant.

So, you don't want to be a spy no more then?

'I wanted to be a golfer as a kid. I always wanted to be one.

'If I wasn't a golfer, I wanted to be a spy.

'I'll tell you, I'm quite sneaky.'

Yeah, I think I'm quite sneaky. I like it because people think I'm...

Like, my friends think I'm... away with the fairies,

but really I'm... My head's screwed on.

I'm just a taxi driver and a baby-sitter

and a ball picker upper and an alarm clock, you know,

"Come on. You've got to get up,"

and it's just...

It's just accompanying her for what she needs.

I do the donkey work and let her play the golf.

Well, on the tour, it's different now cos everybody's professional,

but as amateur, I've seen a lot of, you know, dads caddying

and they were moaning at the kids when they hit a bad shot.

And I near cried.

I thought that poor kid's probably never going to play golf

all their life cos they're going to hate it.

You know, so I never used to caddy Charley.

I just wanted her to go out and enjoy it.

And that's what she does.

But a lot of parents...

they want it more than the kids do.

All I want to do is...just support her. That's my job.

It's to support her and let her play golf. That's it.

Let's go hit a shot, Dad.

A shot. See? I'm going to get over here now.

I still think I'd do all right though if he wasn't there,

but it's just good to have someone there to...

Like when I'm away by myself,

when I go out of England, if I was away for like three weeks,

I probably wouldn't call him at all

because I don't really need to speak to him.

-No, that's how we are.

-That's how I am.

Like I'd probably speak to my friends, but I don't know.

If I had a good round,

I'd just be like, "Yeah, I played well. Thanks, Dad." That's it.

That's true. That's the way she is.

I'm one of these people, if I'm not...

If they're not there, I don't really need to speak to them.

I don't really need to tell him.

It's not like he's not going to be there when I'm back.

Not there when I'm back. Like I know he's going to be there.

Unless he has a heart attack or something, but I don't know but...

-You know what I mean?

-Lovely, eh?

-RADIO:

-'10 KXPS I am Julie Buehler.

'Charley Hull is out here participating as well.

-'Now, she's one over in the first day. She's spunky, Dom.

-Spunky!

'And she's fun to watch.'

She still seems very young.

We have to do simple, little things just like we've done

since she was a kid, but on the golf course... Oh! She's a tiger.

She believes in herself

and she thinks she knows it all.

And that's why she's good.

Even sometimes she's wrong, but she sorts it out herself eventually.

And a lot of parents would say to their child,

"You don't know it all," and they tell them that.

That's right.

They...they do.

And they can tell them it,

but the kids have got to learn it themselves.

It's a bit like when they go out in the street and play, you know,

I mean, if they never see a car, they get run over.

They have to learn that...in life, they are going to get a few knocks

before they learn things right.

Life for Dave is spent supporting his daughter on the tour.

It's a sacrifice he's happy to pay.

I think there is things that I would have liked to have done,

but I'm more happy at seeing her get on, you know?

That's my enjoyment.

Erm, you know, you could have new carpets, a new car...

OK, I don't have any of them,

but, no, all the money went towards Charley

to let her do what she wants cos she enjoys it.

I've always been used to him being so supportive to me.

So, it's kind of like, "Ah, I take it for granted,"

where actually I'm now starting to realise

that my dad and my mum specially have been really good.

My mum, she doesn't know too much about golf.

I remember the first time she came and watched me play.

I was about eight years old

and I hit my six iron to like five feet and I thought...

everyone thought it was a great shot.

And she turns around and goes to Dad,

"Oh, well, that wasn't very good, was it?" And Dad was like,

"She just hit it to five feet with a six iron."

And she was like, "Well, aren't you meant to hole it?"

But I think she's understood more of the game now.

And she gets...she enjoys it a lot.

Baseinka's, she's pretty much like Charley.

She just gets on with it and she understands that we have to go away.

I mean, she couldn't come here

cos, I mean, she's had a stroke. She's on warfarin.

She'd have to have injections every time before she gets on a plane.

And she don't want that, you know?

So, yeah, we've both got our roles to play in supporting her

and that's what we do.

I don't mind. It's rather sad because it gets a bit lonely.

I've got my other family around me,

but it's just at night when you come home from work

and the house is empty and all I've got is a smelly dog and just myself.

But then I do miss them a lot.

But then it's so nice because I've got the remote control to myself.

It's tidy, you know?

I can eat what I want and I can see them on telly or the internet.

It's clear that Basienka misses you both

when you're away in far-flung countries like this.

Well, that's good, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, she loves me.

You know, that's good.

She knows that she's got to do certain things

and that I've got to do certain things.

I've said, "Bas, why don't we swap?"

She says, "Oh, no, I can't. I know nothing about golf."

So she... We get home and she plays her role.

She gets all the clothes ready.

Sometimes we have to get them ready

as soon as we get back and go the next day.

So we both...both work together.

As a professional golfer,

Charley will spend several months of the year travelling.

It'd be easy to get distracted,

but her friends help keep her grounded.

I need my friends to like go wild with sometimes.

I need someone to look after me and keep me calm

and I need my sister to learn from what to do and what not to do.

Every probably Friday and Saturday,

I just meet with my friends and relax and stuff.

Despite knowing Charley so well,

she still has a few surprises.

I do a lot of like OCD things...

What about when you used to leave the house...

Oh, yeah, when I used to leave the house,

I have to make...touch everything. It's weird.

Make sure I play with the right ball handle. I have to think...

Round the whole round of golf, I hardly think of anything.

I have to think of like, to keep myself concentrated,

I always think of the number four for some reason.

I don't know why cos if I think of four,

I think if you shoot four under par every round,

then you're going to win a tournament. It's so weird.

I have to wear pink socks on Thursdays and Fridays

and blue socks on... No, no, sorry.

Yeah, I have to wear blue socks on Fridays,

sorry, Saturdays and Sundays.

I used to always wear orange on the first day of tournament,

but I've outgrown that now.

THEY LAUGH

I've outgrown the top.

Erm... Yeah.

There's a good hit.

One of Charley's biggest admirers

is two-time major winner Tony Jacklin.

This is not rocket science, this thing. What you've got...

You've got all of this amazing ability

and you've got to just take care of the simple, simple stuff.

The pair have become firm friends.

Today, they've come to Wentworth.

Lots of mud here.

Blimey! You need Wellington boots.

I've been trying to work on my tempo so much cos, after Solheim,

my tempo got fast because you know when you get excited...

-Yeah, I told... We went all through this, didn't we, at home?

-Yeah.

And I said to you when I won the Open, it was all about tempo.

-Yeah, exactly.

-Tom Weiskopf put a thing on my locker the last day...

-Yeah.

-..at the US open - Tempo -

-and that's all we thought about.

-Yeah.

When you've got all the fundamentals that you've got,

that's all you've got to think about.

I talked to her and she's still like a kid to me, you know what I mean?

She responds like, children -

you're not sure whether they're taking it all in, you know,

the importance of what you're actually trying to get across.

When I went to America in '67,

I found that the legs...

The swing from the ground up is the important thing.

Tempo comes from following your legs,

letting your legs lead in terms of swing rhythm.

And never rushing because humans want to rush all the time

especially when they get nervous.

Well, that was a good putt.

I want the best for her

and she's told me she wants to be a great player and she's...

It's all there. She's already a very, very good player.

But in order to be great, you've got to beat the best

and I don't see any reason

why she can't be up there

right at the top of the game.

A bit late.

Good afternoon, everyone.

We would like to welcome Charley Hull into the interview room.

First of all, congratulations.

What a fabulous round today.

6 under 66. Now sit at 8 under overall.

Just a few shots off the lead at a major championship. What was...

Back in California, Charley is charging through the field.

With just one round to go, she's only two shots off the lead.

Her first major title is in sight.

You know, I've always told her

that when you go out and play golf,

if you're with your mates or in a championship,

you don't try no harder when you're playing in a championship

than you do when you're playing with your mates

cos you hit the shot in the major,

you hit the shot with your mates.

Why would you play...try any harder?

So, if you work on that the same,

it'll end up fine.

And when you saw her hitting those shots this afternoon,

could you read what was going on in your daughter's mind?

I've never been able to do that all me life. No.

No. Who does? Not much. She's...

She was thinking about her dog at home and she says,

"I just stand there and look around and think about other things, Dad.

"And then I look at the shot and think, time to hit the shot now."

You're going a bit too fast. I can't keep up with you.

-But we haven't been past it, Dad.

-Sorry?

-We haven't been past it.

-Charley.

-Yeah?

'I've never been on a holiday before or any golfing holiday.

'So I've never spent more than a week without swinging a golf club.'

Charley left school at 13 to focus on her golf.

She had home tuition,

but has never taken any exams.

'People usually say school comes first, you know,

'especially a lot of kids in America,

'but for me, golf comes first

'cos I think I can always come back

'to my schooling later in life.

'You only live once.

'A lot of people say YOLO, but...

'It is. You only live once.'

-Hey! Do you do fresh orange?

-Pardon me?

-Fresh orange.

-Lemonade.

-Oh, just lemonade.

-Lemonade.

Fresh squeezed lemonade. We are the only fresh squeezed lemonade

-in the entire village here.

-Right, lovely. Cheers.

-Dad, can I have a lemonade, please?

-Yeah. Go on.

'Yeah, it'd be great if I won this one, but I'm really happy at home.

'I've never been really interested in the lifestyle and like,

'oh, I want to live in Florida and be with so many different people.

'I'm pretty happy with my friends.'

-Yeah, it's real good.

-Lovely.

-Five dollars.

-Cheers.

I'm incredibly competitive.

I want to win this now and we're not even playing for anything.

That's just... I think if you're a professional sports person...

if me and Mum are playing Countdown,

I hate it when I lose. I know that's embarrassing,

but that's just what professional sport is all about.

-You want to win.

-Yeah.

Laura Davies is Britain's most successful woman golfer.

She's been at the top for over 20 years

and has first-hand experience

of how the sport has changed.

How has it changed since you were younger?

Well, I think the biggest thing is the likes of yourself

and, you know, Lydia Ko, all such young players and also good

whereas, before, it was almost like

you had to lose a load of tournaments

before you could be considered to win one

because people just didn't turn pro

and immediately become great players.

And I think that's the biggest difference -

the age in the game now - cos all the great players when I was younger

-were all in their mid-30s.

-Yeah.

And now it seems the best players are in their mid-to-low 20s.

-And obviously there's some teen stars.

-Yeah.

And, you know, it's great.

I think it's great for the sport cos that's what people want to see.

And it's good. I think women's golf is in good hands now.

It may be in good hands, but Laura doesn't think it will be easy

for Charley and other young players

to break down existing perceptions about women in sport.

I don't think anyone will,

especially when you have a sport where men and women play it

and all they're interested in is Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

Half of the men's tour don't get a look-in

because it's all about those best few players

and we'll never really be held

in the same esteem as the men.

Whether that's right or wrong... probably not,

but that's just the way it is in professional sport.

While women's golf may not be as high profile as the men's game,

there are hopes that this could change

and fresh blood like Charley can certainly help.

Imaginary flag just behind me over there, yeah?

The teenager's fast becoming a golfing cover girl.

This photo shoot is for the European tour magazine Golf Chic.

Well, obviously the sport of golf is changing.

It does have quite a stuffy image,

certainly to those who perhaps don't play the game

and know the reality.

I just think she's a great role model

for all golfers of all ages,

from the young to the very old, so we're really, really pleased

she's going to be on the front cover.

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS

Do you ever stop and think,

"Blimey, I'm on the front cover of this magazine?"

No, not really.

I don't really like looking at myself in those photos, to be honest.

I'm just like normal, so I just carry on doing what I do best - my golf.

Have you ever been stopped in the street, Charley?

Have I ever been stopped in the in the street?

By people saying, "Are you Charley Hull? Are you the golfer?"

Erm, no, I was actually in Nando's the other day

and someone was like, "You're Charley Hull the golfer,"

cos he was like from Corby - I can't do a Corby accent -

but...that's what happened and me and my friend were like, "Yeah."

And how did the conversation go?

I just looked away and carried on eating my chicken.

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS

-RADIO HOST:

-'Julie Buehler here.

'Final day of the Kraft Nabisco Championship

'and what incredible final pairings

'we have for golf fans all over the world.

'Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson headline the final pairing.

'If anyone is going to catch them,

'it might be Charley Hull, the young phenom from Britain.'

It's just minutes to go,

before Charley's final round.

Her preparation complete,

there's understandable tension for team Hull

as they wait for her to start.

Good luck. Nice coverage in the papers this morning...

'She doesn't want money.

'Never been interested in that

'or fame. She just wants to win.

'Honestly. That's Charley.'

Zip all the way round, Chars,

-there's some things in there if you need them.

-Great.

With her first major title in sight,

it's the moment Charley's been dreaming of.

See you, darling. Have fun.

Play out your heart. Enjoy. All right?

I used to be quite a shy person when I was younger,

but now I just kind of think you only live once,

just get out there and do what you got to do.

You're not going to die if you hit a bad shot.

You know, it's just that kind of attitude.

Just go out there and play the game and enjoy it.

And from England...

Charley Hull.

APPLAUSE

Playing steady.

Not been too aggressive.

Probably just three putted, it's the only mistake she made.

So, playing...playing well.

You just need to drop a few putts and you'll be up there.

Just be patient.

CROWD MOANS

CROWD MOANS

Unlucky, kid.

This time, it wasn't to be.

Sadly, Charley starts to slip down the leaderboard.

It's the game of golf.

You play good, you play not so good.

You don't know the score until the end.

Instead, it was another youngster,

American Lexi Thompson, who took the title.

Disappointment for Charley

whose game and gumption had delighted the crowd.

Been a great experience.

You know, today I played well the front nine

then I just had a bad short putt,

but I think I could be world number one in the future

if I work hard at it,

especially from building up these years until I'm 21

and I've got a couple more years to go yet.

By then, I'll be hopefully sky-high.

For the winner, a cheque for 300,000

and there's a final bizarre tradition.

Seventh place in the first major of the year

and it's only my fifth competition so far throughout the year.

I'm pretty happy with my week

and I just can't wait for my next tournament now.