Hull shuns States to seek Rose Series win

Charley Hull, the world No25, has ditched her original plan to play in the first two events of the LPGA Tour restart this month and will instead remain in England to try to win the Rose Ladies Series.

Hull was meant to be flying to the United States at the start of this week to fulfil the required two-week quarantine to appear in the Drive On Championship in Toledo on July 31, followed by the Marathon Classic, also in Ohio.

But after winning the first Rose Ladies Series event at Brokenhurst Manor four weeks ago, and then racking up top-six finishes in the next three events – including runner-up at last week’s tournament at Royal St George’s – the 24-year-old from Kettering has decided to stay and compete for the Order of Merit sponsored by American Golf, which will see the player topping the standings at the end of the Computacenter Grand Final collecting a £20,000 bonus.

With leader Gemma Dryburgh having made the trip across the pond on Monday, Hull has been left in pole position, although with the likes of Liz Young, Annabel Dimmock and the 2018 Women’s British Open champion, Georgia Hall, in close pursuit it will be anything but a formality.

Hull will be looking to afford herself a cushion today when she tees it up at the JCB Country Club, the fifth stop in the series, and it is fair to say the organisers are delighted to have her in attendance at the muchvaunted new layout in rural Staffordshire.

“I’ve spoken to Justin and Kate [Rose’s wife] and they are thrilled that Charley is to carry on playing in the series,” said Paul Mcdonnell, Rose’s agent at Excel Sports, who are running the series.

“To have someone of Charley’s status is, of course, a big boost. We completely understand why Gemma felt she needed to be back on the LPGA Tour to fight for her playing status and we wish her all the best.

“The series is going from strength to strength and is sure to get even more exciting in the forthcoming weeks.”

Hall had already elected to skip the LPGA Tour resumption and wait until the world’s best arrive in Scotland next month for the Aberdeen Standard Investment Ladies Scottish Open at the Renaissance followed by the AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Troon.

“I will be fresh, with no jet lag, and this series will have honed my game,” Hall said.