English golfer Charley Hull has expressed no remorse for the practical joke she played on her longtime caddie, Adam Woodward, despite facing criticism online. The three-time LPGA champion is urging detractors to relax after receiving widespread backlash for deceiving Woodward into believing he had won £100,000 ($188,300 Cdn) on a fake lottery card.
During an interview at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in England, Hull was asked if she would repeat the prank. She responded affirmatively, stating that Woodward found it amusing afterward and emphasizing that it was all in good fun. Hull even pledged to purchase him 100 scratch cards by the end of the week, hoping he would earn more money through their performance.
Hull shared the details of the prank with the media before the tournament commenced. She recounted how Woodward excitedly announced his supposed win in the players’ lounge, expressing sheer joy until they revealed the ruse, causing him to almost consider quitting his job.
The golfer, aged 30, concluded the story with a laugh and posted a video of the prank on social media with a caption playfully indicating that Woodward would continue as her caddie for the week. Despite Hull’s light-hearted intentions, the online response was predominantly negative, with critics condemning the prank as cruel and insensitive.
While some users criticized Hull’s actions, pointing out her substantial career earnings, others defended her, highlighting that it was likely a harmless jest between her and Woodward, with whom she has had a longstanding working relationship.
The controversy surrounding Hull’s prank coincides with her pursuit of claiming her first major tournament victory at the AIG Women’s Open, where the champion stands to win a substantial share of the record $10 million total prize purse.