MATT JESUS: All right, pleased to be joined by Charley Hull ahead of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. Just being back here at Florida, had a little time off, what's been the getting ready for this last two weeks of the season?
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, I just had one week at home after Malaysia and I was pretty much in bed by 6:00 every day. I think the jet lag got the best of me. Well, the weather has gone like foggy and cold at home, but I love that kind of weather, so we've just been playing like nine holes and just prepping as much as I can for these two weeks.
These are my favorite two weeks of the year. It's nice. Got my family coming out next week.
MATT JESUS: We've heard that from a lot of players, that this week and next week are some of the favorites. Especially this week. What is it about it that...
CHARLEY HULL: I think it's just such a good golf course. I really like this golf course. I just enjoy it because it's near the end of the season as well. Like you want to do well, but at the same time it's kind of chilled.
Q. What makes this golf course a good test?
CHARLEY HULL: I think because this year it's a bit more softer, so some of the holes, like 18 I hit 4-iron today, really good 4-iron. Yesterday into two I usually had gap wedge and I hit 6-iron in.
So I think it's making it even more of a test and the greens are quite undulated and just a proper ball-strikers' golf course.
Q. What's your goal as you go into the closing stretch of the season?
CHARLEY HULL: Well, it would be nice to get a win. Obviously I've won round the golf course next week back in 2016 and come second here, so hopefully I can get it going because I like the two weeks.
Q. What do you think the difference is? What will you need to do differently to be able to get that last win?
CHARLEY HULL: Just hole some putts. I played so well in Malaysia but didn't putt that well. So still resulted in a top 10 finish, but if I just get the putts rolling, yeah, should be a good week.
Q. Charley, when you come back to a course that you've felt comfortable on but not had that winner's trophy yet, does that weigh on you a little bit after a certain number of years?
CHARLEY HULL: Not really, no. Just go out there and have fun. Play a bit of golf and enjoy it. Win or lose on a Saturday, Sunday I'll be going Raising Cane's on my drive down to Naples.
Q. Charley, you do so much to grow the game of golf. Could you -- or would you mind telling us a little bit about the SI photo shoot.
CHARLEY HULL: Oh, yeah, it was so much fun. So I went -- I think it was like three weeks ago now. I was in Ibiza, and I literally was so excited when I got the phone call about being in it.
It's always been like a childhood dream since I was younger because one of my main idols growing up was Anna Kournikova. She's a tennis player, and she was always in Sports Illustrated. I was like, oh, my god, please. Yeah, definitely.
Yeah, just got out there in the morning. Flew to Ibiza, only like an hour and 50 flight from the UK. Literally landed, went straight into hair and makeup, and just shot until like 8:00 at night. Hats off to models, because it seems like a very easy job, but I didn't realize how hard it was.
Yeah, it was pretty cool. And then the next day we did like a content day on the boat, and, yeah, it was just super fun. It was good. And then I flew home that evening and I ate loads of cookies at the airport.
Q. (No microphone.)
CHARLEY HULL: Oh, yeah, really early. Well, because I flew to Ibiza. I was up at 5:00 in the morning, caught a flight at like 7:30 and landed and then went literally straight into hair and makeup. I was like, whoa, this will pretty flat out. Even though I wasn't playing golf or doing a lot of walking I was pretty tired after them two days.
Q. (No microphone.)
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah. Thank you.
Q. Aside from the course itself, what are some of the things you enjoy about coming here? Pelican has been named one of the favorite stops on the Tour.
CHARLEY HULL: I go to this restaurant every year. It's right bear my hotel, and they do the best lobster rolls in like these -- it's like the rice paper, and I have the best fish tacos, Mahi Mahi fish tacos, and I was so excited to come here just for that.
And also the golf course is great. I like the golf course. But, yeah, the Mahi Mahi fish tacos are so good. I went there last night and I am going there again tonight.
Q. Did you want to name that place?
CHARLEY HULL: You know what, I can't even remember the name of it. I just walk to it because I know where it's at. I don't know what it's called.
Q. I'm sure they would love the shoutout.
CHARLEY HULL: I think it's called back waters on Sankey.
Q. Yes, yes.
CHARLEY HULL: I really like it. I thought it was good. I went in there yesterday and had the lobster rolls and crab cakes. I went with my caddie and we had the lobster bisque soup and fish tacos. It was good.
Q. A little bit about the Doyles and how they treat the players. It's been talked about a lot this week as well. Thoughts on that.
CHARLEY HULL: Oh, yeah, they do a great job. They're so nice. Played with them today and they're so nice. They've got great like banter we call it in England. They're laid back and they're lovely people, and it's great what they've done to this golf course since they bought it in 2017. And they've lived in this same area their whole life. I like that.
Q. Thank you. Good luck.
CHARLEY HULL: Thanks.
Q. Did you notice the rough is up a little bit this year?
CHARLEY HULL: It is up. I felt like even the whole golf course is just a little bit softer, but it's playing a little bit longer which I quite like. Yeah, usually you can chip -- putt a lot of the greens here, but now even the first cut is a little bit longer where you're going to have to chip.
Q. Couple quick ones. What were your thoughts on the new pace of play policy that was unveiled last night?
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, I think it's good. Anything that is going to harsh I think is good. Yeah, I'm happy about that. Hopefully we can play in four hours now. It literally took me an hour and 40 to play in the pro-am today. Like that's great.
I wish we done that on Tour.
Q. Okay. So do you ever talk to your peers about picking up the pace? Those that you know are...
CHARLEY HULL: No. I just usually play ready-golf. If I don't say nothing when I'm hitting the golf ball there is a hint anyway.
Q. When was the shoot, the SI shoot?
CHARLEY HULL: I think like three weeks ago. It was like couple days before I flew out to Malaysia.
Q. How do you decide what things you're going to say? I know you explained this one in particular. In general, what's your MO for I'm going to say yes to this or say no to that?
CHARLEY HULL: It's always been a dream to be in Sports Illustrated, you know what I mean? I think it's a really, really cool thing to be a part of. As I said, like one my biggest idols growing up with Anna Kournikova in tennis, and to see her in it, so I was like, definitely. Like I was so excited. I said it a couple years ago it would be my dream to be in Sports Illustrated, and it's come true. So, yeah, it's perfect.
Q. But when other opportunities come your way, how do you decide whether or not you're going to say yes or no?
CHARLEY HULL: Kind of speak to my agent about it, weigh it up, pros and cons. If I like it I'm going it do to. If I don't like it I ain't going to do it, do you know what I mean?
Q. Do you ever think that will take too much time from practice or preparation or things like that?
CHARLEY HULL: No, not necessarily. No. Literally everyone's allowed a day off golf and I'm one of these people who don't take enough days off golf. I'm always golfing all the time, so I don't think how one night out of your own bed is going to affect that.
Q. Very good. One last thing in that same vein, how do you view, I don't know, I don't know if obligation is the right word, but your role in terms of saying yes to opportunities to help grow the Tour?
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, I think obviously you want to say yes to a lot of opportunities to grow the Tour. At the same time as well you need to look after yourself and say no to certain ones. You're not a robot, do you know what I mean?
I feel like as a player I give enough, like I give a lot to the Tour. I just be myself. I've got my own YouTube channel now as well and I think that's good for a different kind of audience and kind of get to see my personalities and see how I am at home and playing golf.
And I don't -- and that's just another way that I can grow the game of golf. Because I had someone come up to me today and said there is a little girl from my hometown who's young, nine, and loves watching you on YouTube. She is learning lots of stuff on there and it's cool to see your personalities.
I was like, aw, that's pretty cool. I don't see how it can be any damage.
MATT JESUS: Thank you, Charley.
CHARLEY HULL: Cheers. Later, guys.
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