It's not uncommon for golfers to have a specific weapon they utilize to bring out their best. It can be a driver, a 5-iron or a putter, and it varies from player to player.
For Great Britain's Charley Hull, the secret to her success isn't a club, but a smoke.
Hull went viral at the 2024 U.S. Women's Open when she was seen ripping a cigarette at Lancaster Country Club during the major. Smoking on the course used to be common in the game of golf, but with the decrease in cigarette consumption over the years, there are very few who still take a puff while competing. John Daly is about the only one fans will still see competing with a smoke in his mouth.
"I find it quite funny because I actually do go to the gym and I’m a very healthy person," Hull said about smoking. "I only smoke. I hardly drink. I don’t need to drink because, actually, I can have a fun time without it."
The British woman is in Paris now competing at the 2024 Olympics with the hopes of bringing a medal back to her home country. Her fellow Brit Tommy Fleetwood earned silver on the men's side this year, but a female from Great Britain has never won any medal in Olympic golf.
However, Hull is playing with a disadvantage — at least for her. She won't be having any smokes at the 2024 Olympics, as it is banned at the international competition.
"Yeah, I do smoke on the course, it’s just something I do," Hull said before the start of the Olympic tournament. "It’s a habit but I won’t do it this week."
Here is more to know about the smoking ban in Paris.
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Charley Hull smoking ban, explained
Hull won't be seen with a cigarette in her mouth at any point while she is on the course at Le Golf National. This is due to a rule put in place by the Olympics.
According to the official 2024 Olympics Spectator Information, smoking is prohibited at venues except for in select smoking areas. Le Golf National is among those venues where the ban is put in place.
It's a bit ironic considering France has a history of being a smoker's paradise. However, the European country is cracking down on public smoking, including prohibiting the use of tobacco in parks, beaches and other public areas. France also is banning disposable e-cigarettes.
The British golfer admitted before the tournament that she thought the ban would have an impact on her performance.
"Yeah, I think it will," Hull said when asked if the smoking ban would affect her. "Because it relaxes me a little bit. But it is what it is."
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Charley Hull score
It appears that Hull was correct in believing the smoking ban would impact her showing in Paris, but it's doubtful she thought it would affect her as much as it has to start the tournament.
Hull put together an ugly score of 81 to kick off her Olympics, finishing 9-over par in Round 1. Her mark was the third-worst out of all of the competitors on Wednesday, only trailing Finland's duo of Ursula Wikstrom (10-over) and Noora Komulainen (12-over).
Unlike on the PGA Tour, there is no cut after two rounds at the Olympics, so there is still a shot at Hull getting back into contention. But she is going to have to play some of her best golf over the next three days to climb out of the hole she dug for herself — and that's without the help of a dart to calm the nerves.