Smokin' Charley Hull Autographs A Fan's Cigarette, Becomes LPGA's John Daly

Charley Hull's pivot to the John Daly of the LPGA – minus the beers, wings, M&Ms, abuse of her body –  took another step over the weekend at the LPGA Championship where she autographed a cigarette for a fan. 

"Can you sign my dart?" the fan asked the LPGA's rising star. 

"I don't know how I can do that, but I'll just put CH," Hull replied before moving on with her day like the pro that she is. 

And with that, the legend of Smokin' Charley Hull continues to grow. 

Even though she has over a half-million Instagram followers, Charley isn't exactly a household name within the viral world. Yes, she has a few workout photos, there's a bikini photo here and there, and she's definitely photogenic, but there was never that viral moment for the Brit who has two LPGA tour wins. 

Yes, she had two second-place finishes in LPGA majors in 2023, but that's not going to move the Google Trends meter. 

The absolutely biggest moment of Hull's professional career from a viral standpoint came in late May when Hull was photographed smoking at a golf tournament, which is something modern sports fans have not seen much of, if at all, since Daly ripped darts on the course. 

It was shocking and people wanted to see it. 

Now it's Hull's calling card. 

"I'm from England. Everyone smokes in England," Hull told the LeBatard Show. "It was pretty mad (wild) how it all kind of took off. I was just minding my own business, signing a few autographs. I was walking from the clubhouse to the range and I had my hands full. I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll smoke my last cigarette.'

"I'm smoking it and then someone asked me for an autograph. Someone took a picture of me, so there you go."

How big did the moment get for her career?

"It actually got more publicity about it than shooting 67 in the U.S. Open last year," she added.

Like I was saying. 

Charley Hull hits a vape on the 15th tee during the final round of the 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Look, this isn't rocket science. Humans are looking for the unique and strange. They're looking for the things that change the narrative. Watching pro golfers shoot a 67 isn't unique. Looking at a golfer who looks like fellow losers at the golf course smoking cigs and wreaking their bodies is relatable.  

That's why we love John Daly and it's why, if she continues to lean into it, which she did last week at the PGA Championship where she was photographed vaping, the floor belongs to Hull. It's hers for the taking if she wants to be the fun LPGA woman to follow. 

Let's see where this goes.