Charley Hull almost made a mistake that would have defined her career before it truly began. At just 17 years old, the English star nearly got a permanent tattoo across her forehead after a drunken night in Ibiza. Her best friend James stepped in at the last second to stop the ink from ruining her face. This story proves Hull is not your typical polished golf pro. She is raw, unfiltered, and refreshingly honest about her past. That kind of transparency is rare on the LPGA Tour.
The Night It Nearly Went Wrong
Hull and James were partying hard when the idea struck. They were heading back to their hotel after a club night. Hull decided she wanted a tattoo of their catchphrase, “Hold tight, hold tight,” right across her head. James refused to let her go through with it. He talked her out of the face ink on the spot. Hull later told Golfweek, according to GolfMagic, “I got drunk when I was in Ibiza when I was 17 years old. Me and my friend James went out partying.” She added, according to Sportsnaut, “He wouldn’t let me get it on my forehead. Instead, I got it on my foot and it says, ‘hold tight.’ He got a matching one on his arm.” Imagine waking up the next morning with a plastic bag on your foot and no memory of how it got there. Hull woke up confused and asked James if she had been that drunk. He confirmed the truth. She had no idea she even got the tattoo until he explained the aftercare bag.
A Different Kind of Star
Most players hide their wild youth behind a corporate smile. Hull wears it like a badge of honor. She admits to having three tattoos now, including a lightning bolt with friend Georgia Hall. She even has the name of her former husband on her wrist, a reminder of a chapter she has moved past. This openness makes her a fan favorite. She reminds many of John Daly with her attitude and love for the game. She even took up smoking to quit vaping, a fact that shocked some but delighted others. Her honesty about her struggles shows she is human. She told Golfweek, according to Yardbarker, “I think I’m too golf obsessed sometimes, I really am.” She admits letting tournament results ruin her mood instead of just chilling with friends. This self-awareness is what will eventually help her reach the top of the rankings.
Although she peaked at No. 3, Hull now holds the No. 8 world ranking. She knows the gap between her and Nelly Korda comes down to consistency. She has finished runner-up in a major five times. That is a record of near-misses that hurts. Yet, her story about the Ibiza tattoo shows she has the grit to fix her own mistakes. She fixed the forehead ink with James’ help. Now she must fix her mental game. The player who got drunk at 17 and lived to tell the tale is the same one who can win a major. She just needs to keep “holding tight” when the pressure mounts.
