CHARLEY KEEPING FINGERS CROSSED

CHARLEY HULL is hoping an old wrist injury doesn’t flare up this week and wreck her hopes of winning a first major championship at the age of 21. The English starlet finished runner-up to Lydia Ko in the ANA Inspiration tournament in Palm Springs last year and goes into the event, beginning tomorrow, as one of the favourites. But her preparations were rudely interrupted last week when she had to pull out of an event after injuring the wrist. After seeking a second opinion, Hull (above) was given the all-clear to play. ‘The first guy I saw looks after some NFL players and he said it was fractured, but it’s actually an old injury and more like a chip out of the bone that I aggravated,’ she said. ‘I saw a second guy and was told to take the week off, so I should be fine to play this week.’ The ANA course suits the longer hitters and plays to Hull’s strengths. Last year she was involved in a thriller, with Ko getting up and down from 120 yards in two on the final hole to win by one. The amazing New Zealander, 19, who has 19 career victories, became the youngest two-time major winner since Young Tom Morris in 1869, but had her own problems this year. Ko took the bizarre decision to split from long-time coach David Leadbetter at the end of last year and missed only the second halfway cut of her pro career last week. Also playing is Melissa Reid, and the 29-yearold from Derby was also a doubt after tweaking a back muscle. Her season started with a win in Australia and she is now trying to make it in America. ‘It’s weird being considered a rookie and I certainly don’t feel like one, but this is where I want to be and I’m really looking forward to this week,’ she said. Scot Catriona Matthew and Jodi Ewart Shadoff from England complete the UK contingent. Meanwhile, here at the Houston Open, the event lost its leading draw card when world No 1 Dustin Johnson took the sensible decision to pull out. After winning three events in a row, the last thing he needed was four more competitive rounds under the spotlight before heading to Augusta. The event still has local hero Jordan Spieth plus Henrik Stenson and English quintet Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood and Luke Donald — the latter needing a win to earn the last Masters invitation.