Charley Hull prank backlash grows as golf fans slam ‘cruel’ fake £100,000 caddie joke
Hull's prank on caddie Adam Woodward has sparked a wave of criticism online, with many fans questioning whether making him believe he had won £100,000 went too far.
Charley Hull has sparked a wave of criticism from golf fans ahead of the AIG Women’s Open after a prank on her caddie Adam Woodward left many questioning whether the joke went too far.
The English star revealed during her pre-tournament press conference at Royal Lytham & St Annes on Wednesday that she tricked Woodward into believing he had won £100,000 with a fake scratch card bought from a joke shop in Blackpool.
The incident, filmed and shared on Hull’s new Sweet Spot Golf channel, was intended as a bit of fun between player and caddie. However, the reaction on X has been overwhelmingly negative, with many golf fans criticising the prank and arguing it was uncomfortable to watch rather than funny.
Hull explained that she bought the fake winning scratch card the day before her press conference before handing it to Woodward, who had no idea the prize was not real.
After scratching away at the card, Woodward, who has worked for Hull since 2015, believed he had landed a £100,000 win and was visibly stunned by what had happened.
The caddie removed his hat and glasses, began sweating and shaking before running around the players’ lounge telling people he was taking the day off. But the excitement soon turned to disappointment when Hull revealed the scratch card was fake.
Hull joked that her caddie nearly quit his job after discovering the truth, but many fans watching felt the prank crossed a line.
Watch Hull tell her story below:
Here's the video of what happened:
Little laughter as reporters watch Hull explain prank
The reaction inside the media centre at Royal Lytham & St Annes was also noticeable.
As Hull described the prank during her press conference, there was little laughter from the reporters in attendance, with many appearing unsure whether the joke had landed as intended.
That muted reaction appeared to reflect the wider response online, where a large number of golf fans expressed disappointment with the stunt.
One fan wrote: “I hate practical jokes. This one is especially cruel.”
Another questioned the humour behind the moment, asking: “Is this supposed to be funny?”
Several supporters suggested Hull should make amends with Woodward after the prank, with one writing: “Hope she pays him that bonus this week.”
Skratch and TGL's Claire Rogers also felt bad for Woodward.
Others were far more critical of the incident.
One fan posted: “Nobody should ever caddy for her again. Let her carry her own bag.”
Even a renowned golf reporter on X also criticised the prank, writing: “Never warmed to her. Another reason not to...”
Another fan focused on Hull’s reaction after seeing how excited Woodward became, suggesting the moment showed a lack of awareness.
They wrote: “Not at all funny. The fact that she didn’t even have the self awareness to lie and say she felt bad when she saw how excited he was reflects someone living in a bubble.”
Some fans defend Hull’s prank
Not everyone reacted negatively, with some supporters defending Hull and viewing the moment as harmless banter between a player and caddie.
“Classic Charley,” one fan wrote, while another simply commented: “That’s hilarious.”
Others argued how playful moments between golfers and their teams can show a strong relationship behind the scenes.
One supporter said humorous caddie pranks can demonstrate “awesome team chemistry”.
However, those defending Hull appeared to be outnumbered by the criticism, with many fans questioning whether making someone believe they had won a substantial amount of money before taking that moment away was an appropriate joke, especially when they've worked for you for more than a decade.
The backlash has also highlighted the unique relationship between players and caddies in professional golf.
Caddies, who earn a small percentage of a player's earnings, are responsible for so much more than carrying a bag of golf clubs.
They spend tournament weeks cleaning equipment, providing yardages, helping with strategy and supporting players through the pressure of competition.
For some fans, that made the prank particularly uncomfortable given the important role Woodward plays alongside Hull.
Hull turns attention back to AIG Women’s Open challenge
The social media backlash comes as Hull prepares for another attempt to win her first career major at the AIG Women’s Open.
The 30-year-old remains one of the biggest names in women’s golf but is still searching for her first major title after coming close on several occasions.
Hull has twice finished runner-up at the AIG Women’s Open, including at Walton Heath in 2023 and Royal Porthcawl in 2025.
But before a shot has even been hit at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Hull has already become one of the biggest talking points of the week – with her fake £100,000 scratch card prank creating far more debate than laughter.
Andy Roberts first joined GolfMagic on a month's work experience back in April 2011.
Andy then assumed the role of GolfMagic Editor in 2015.
