Charley Hull made a strong start at the Evian Championship on July 9, 2026, finishing the first round at five under par. Despite a rocky beginning, Hull's performance, which included two birdies and an eagle on the final holes, places her three shots behind Japan's Aki Iwai, who leads with a bogey-free round of eight under par.
Hull's Performance and Strategy
Hull, who was two over par after six holes, showcased her resilience by recovering to card five birdies over the next 11 holes. Her score of 66 marks her joint-lowest first round in a major event. "I didn’t eat it," Hull said, referring to the ice cream she held briefly during play. "My boyfriend got it for my caddie, so I held it for a minute when he was putting my club in the bag!"
In the sweltering conditions, Hull emphasized her strategy of hydration and nutrition, stating, "I just drink loads of water on every hole and have loads of electrolytes. I eat every other hole – but I didn’t eat the ice cream." This approach appears to support her performance, especially given last year's early withdrawal due to health issues.
Competitive Landscape at Evian Championship
As the tournament unfolds, Hull shares third place with three other players at five under par, including M Stark from Sweden and R Haeran from South Korea. Meanwhile, Perrine Delacour of France is two strokes back at six under. Nelly Korda, the world number one and favorite to win, struggled with a three-over 74 and sits in a tie for 102nd place.
