​Charley Hull skipped the ice cream she was holding on the 15th hole, yet she still credited the sweet treat for helping fuel her solid start to the Amundi Evian Championship, shooting a 5-under 66. After a round that began a bit slowly, Hull’s early momentum turned around with back-to-back birdies at holes eight and nine. “It’s not that shy kids don’t get treats,” she joked with a smile after finishing, “it’s that shy caddies don’t get ice cream.” Hull added a lighthearted jab about her caddie, Adam Woodward, who she noted had earned a royal treatment after spending time in the Wimbledon Royal Box with her over the weekend, courtesy of her boyfriend who fetched the ice cream.
Opening the fourth major of the year with a shaky 2-over through seven holes, Hull found her form as the round progressed. She explained that she had a strong pro-am showing the day prior, which made the early performance feel all the more frustrating, especially given her five previous runner-up finishes in majors without a win. “Then I kind of just believed in myself, relaxed, took my time, and capitalized on the birdie opportunities,” she reflected, capturing the moment with a more confident mindset.
Hull kept the birdie streak alive on holes 13, 15, and 16, building anticipation with every putt. She capped the day with an eagle on the 18th after reaching the green in two with an iron, then twirling her club before sinking a 12-foot birdie putt. That closing surge helped her finish at 5 under for the round, a score that positions her in a share of third place, two strokes behind leader Aki Iwai, who shot a 63—the lowest Evian Park opening round since Ayaka Furue in 2022.
Perrine Delacour of France sits alone in second at 6 under, while Hull shares third at 5 under with a group of players that includes Haeran Ryu, the recent KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner. Ryu described her own round as calm and comfortable, noting that having a major championship already under her belt adds a psychological edge. “It feels calm and more comfortable for me because I already have a major champion title,” she said. “I was so happy today. And my mom is still happy, too.”
For Hull, the round’s balance of aggression and patience underscored a promising early position at Evian. With the tournament still in progress, she’s positioned herself as a threat to climb higher on the leaderboard, leveraging her steady ball-striking, strategic approach, and the recent experience of competing in high-pressure environments. The Evian Championship continues to unfold, and Hull’s early scoreline suggests she’s prepared to capitalize on favorable conditions and seize any opportunities that come her way over the next rounds.