LPGA star Charley Hull threw up, ran a personal best and is still in contention at HSBC

Charley Hull has always been a bit unconventional, but her new approach to posting a low score and getting into contention at an LPGA event is even novel for her.

Hull, known for both smoking on the course and now obsessively running, remained a single stroke behind Lydia Ko after the third round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore by working something new into her pre-round routine — vomiting — which she followed by running a personal best time.

That’s right, the ninth-ranked player in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings was ill before her round at Sentosa Golf Club. In search of her third LPGA title and her first since the now-defunct Volunteers of America Classic back in 2022, where she tied the tournament scoring record.

On Saturday, despite feeling under the weather, Hull played largely error-free golf, pairing four birdies with no bogies en route to 68 that has her 9 under, just a single shot behind leader Lydia Ko.

Saying she had a “little bit of a bug,” Hull couldn’t explain how she managed the day, but she did so.

“I don’t know really. I woke up this morning and I actually was sick. I threw up, and then I kind of got my head together,” Hull said. “Then I actually did my personal best in my 5K run in 26 minutes, knocked another minute off. I was pretty happy about that. 30 seconds off, actually. That kept me in a good space for the rest of the day. Just went out on the golf course and played golf.”

Hull had remarked after the second round that she was tired, but with a training regiment that includes lengthy runs and, at least for one day, throwing up,

“I think always when you come off the golf course, you’re always tired. But I’m getting up early, and I’m training and I’m going to bed really early. So I feel nice and recovered for the next day,” she said. “I’m pretty happy with the way I’m going and looking forward to tomorrow, and then one more day until I fly home.”

“My mindset is going to be no different from literally the last three days. Just go out there, play golf, hole some putts and have fun. That’s about it, really. It’s just a game at the end of the day.

And since she played well, her reward is a final-round pairing with Ko, who will be looking for her 23rd LPGA title. Hull said she’s looking forward to the opportunity.

“I like playing with Lydia,” Hull said. “She’s a really, really nice person, so down-to-earth, so kind. Just go out there, have a little chops and just play golf.”

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Charley Hull threw up, ran a personal best and is now looking to win