Charley Hull gets permission from captain to smoke at Solheim Cup

Charley Hull has been given permission to smoke on course during the Solheim Cup, which gets underway on Friday in Virginia.

Alongside German rookie Esther Henseleit, Hull will take on world number one Nelly Korda in the foursomes on Friday morning, and will be the first out on course at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Hull has been in the spotlight since her debut aged just 17 in Denver 11 years ago, when Europe lifted the trophy on US soil for the first time.

“It’s nice to get Charley going, she doesn’t like to sit around and wait,” said the team captain Suzanne Pettersen.

“And she has interacted well with the home fans here this week.”

Pettersen also dismissed talk of Hull’s habit, adding: “She’s having a ball. And Charley’s old enough to make those decisions.”

There were videos circulating of Hull smoking at the US Women’s Open in June, leading to here being branded as the “female John Daly” by the American media, but she was banned from smoking on the course at the Olympics.

When asked about her habit before the Games, Hull said: “I do smoke on the course. It’s a habit, something I do.”

Team Europe have travelled to Virginia hoping to achieve what no side has managed in the 35 years of the competition, lift the trophy for a record fourth successive time.

Hull will have a difficult challenge trying to topple the world number one Korda who has established herself at the top this year, winning six victories in seven runs.