Best friends since they were around 11 years old, Charley Hull and Georgia Hall are teaming up for the Dow Championship, an LPGA team event. The duo, who grew up practicing together in England and now live three minutes apart, have always had a close bond. They represented England Golf together for years and are both stalwarts of the European Solheim Cup team. This week, both Hull and Hall officially made the Olympic Team for Great Britain, highlighting their successful careers in golf.
This marks the first time that Hull has played in the Dow Championship, a popular team event that debuted on the LPGA schedule in 2019. The tournament, held at Midland Country Club, features 72 teams, including top players like Lexi Thompson/Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko/Danielle Kang, Jin Young Ko/Nasa Hataoka, Ruoning Yin/Atthaya Thitikul, and Celine Boutier/Yuka Saso. The event will feature foursomes and four-ball formats, with a purse of $3 million and a first-place team prize of $732,165 ($366,082 each).
Both Hull and Hall have practiced and competed together extensively over the years, allowing them to know each other’s games inside and out. Despite being formidable competitors individually, the pair of 28-year-olds make a strong team with their combined skills and teamwork. With both Englishwomen ranked in the top 40, they are expected to be a strong pair in the Dow Championship, showcasing their talent and chemistry on the course.
During the Dow press conference, Hull and Hall discussed their plans to spend time together in Paris, from shopping to watching gymnastics and boxing. The close friends share many interests outside of golf and enjoy spending time together off the course as well. They have a deep understanding of each other’s personalities, with Hall pointing out that they can tell when something is wrong even before the other realizes it. This strong bond contributes to their success as a team.
The team name “Rose and Thorn” was suggested by a mutual friend, Ryan Evans, who described Hall as the lovely English rose and Hull as the thorn. This nickname reflects their dynamic as a duo, with Hall jokingly mentioning that the thorn protects the rose. Their friendship and camaraderie off the course translate into a strong partnership on the golf course, where they can support and motivate each other to perform at their best. As they embark on the Dow Championship together, Hull and Hall are prepared to showcase their skills and teamwork in pursuit of victory.