Asthma sufferer Charley Hull labels AIG Women's Open protesters "IDIOTS"

Charley Hull blasts protesters who stormed the 17th green in the final round of the AIG Women's Open.

15 Aug 2023

Asthma sufferer Charley Hull labels AIG Women's Open protesters

England's Charley Hull has labelled the protesters who stormed the 17th green in the final round of the AIG Women's Open as "a bunch of idiots" following an interview with The Telegraph.

Hull had just played an exquisite chip shot to 10 feet from a tough position left of the green, and as she went up to mark her golf ball play was briefly halted as several protesters strode onto the green with smoke flares and plumes of red and yellow dust.

While it was initially thought the protesters were from Just Stop Oil like we have seen at multiple sporting events in the country this season, it was in fact Money Rebellion, an arm of protest group Extinction Rebellion, who were protesting at the tournament sponsors.

An R&A statement read:

"Protesters were quickly apprehended on the 17th green during the final group and five arrests were made by the police. We would like to thank the police and marshals for their vigilance and the players and spectators for their understanding."

“Get off you clown!”
Just Stop Oil protester storms 17th green at AIG Women’s Open pic.twitter.com/rrwYopUt1x
— Andy Roberts (@AndyRobertsGolf) August 13, 2023

Hull, 27, went on to miss her par save but she would hole a brilliant putt for par from 30 feet on 18 to finish 8-under par and secure her second runner-up finish in a major this season following her tie for second at the US Women's Open at Pebble Beach.

After the round, Hull gave her verdict on the protesters to Telegraph Sport:

"What a bunch of idiots. I suffer from asthma, but didn’t have my inhaler on me and that stuff was really thick, so no it was not nice. I wasn’t scared when it happened, just thought they were idiots. Someone said they are protesting about oil, but how did they get here today? Drove probably."

World No.9 @HullCharley earned her career-best Major finish at the #AIGWBO finishing solo second to move into the World’s Top 10. #TeamTaylorMade #BeyondDriven pic.twitter.com/XMleO5EHSl
— TaylorMadeGolfEurope (@TaylorMadeTour) August 15, 2023

Lilia Vu, who was playing alongside Hull in the final group in the final round, went on to win emphatically by six strokes - just as her American compatriot Brian Harman did at The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool last month.

Vu, 24, now moves to World No.1 for the first time in her career.