NAPLES, Fla. — A $4 million check wouldn’t change Charley Hull too much. She doesn’t have any grand purchases in mind and would be pretty content to just pocket the cash and go right along, more than happy with the way her life is in its current state.

But that doesn’t mean she isn’t doing everything she can to win the CME Group Tour Championship this week in Naples, Fla.

Hull charged up the leaderboard on Saturday at Tiburón Golf Club, carding a 6-under 66 to move from a tie for ninth into a tie for fourth with just 18 holes remaining at the year’s final event, one step closer to taking home that historic $4 million first-place prize and the title of Race to the CME Globe champion.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Englishwoman has hoisted a trophy at this venue, as she won the CME Group Tour Championship back in 2016 in just her second year as an LPGA Tour member. And after being in contention last week at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, and ultimately finishing in a tie for second behind seven-time 2024 champion Nelly Korda, Hull knows that an LPGA Tour win is close and is as hungry as ever to pick it up this week at Tiburón Golf Club.

But while others near the top of the leaderboard might have dollar signs dancing in their heads when they lay down tonight and try to dream good dreams ahead of Sunday’s final round, Hull isn’t thinking about the money. She’s just here to win one of the biggest tournaments in women’s golf.

“I don't play golf for the money. I play golf for the trophies,” Hull said. “I just want to go out there and win, no matter what the paycheck is. Obviously grateful for it being $4 million. But I want to enjoy it out here. I won round here before, so just go out there and feel confident."

Hull hasn’t won on the LPGA Tour since 2022, when she captured the Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America after beating Xiyu Lin by one stroke just outside of Dallas, Texas. She has come close to a third title on multiple occasions since that second career victory, racking up 10 top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour in the two seasons she’s played since winning two years ago, but has either just gotten beat or been knocked out of contention by a weekend misstep here and there.

Still, the 28-year-old is as confident as ever in her ability on the golf course and knows that she has what it takes to pull out a victory at Tiburón Golf Club, even with so much on the line. Hull recently took home her fourth career Ladies European Tour title a few weeks ago at the Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Riyadh, a victory that was her first on that circuit since 2021 and was a triumph that Hull said “reminded her how to win” last week at The ANNIKA.

With those winning memories still fairly fresh in her mind and having maybe learned a few lessons that she can use to find victory lane once again on the biggest stage in women’s golf, Hull will be throwing everything she has at 54-hole leaders Jeeno Thitikul and Angel Yin on Sunday as she tries to make up a four-shot deficit.

Some players prefer to be in the lead at the start of the last day, and some prefer to chase. For Charley Hull, the fun of final-round golf is all about the hunt, that dogged pursuit of the top of the leaderboard that allows her to play as aggressively as possible, something she will surely be doing on day four at the CME Group Tour Championship.

“I feel like chasing is way more fun,” Hull said. “You can go out there and make birdies, and you feel more relaxed. Yeah, looking forward to it. Literally can't wait.”

Charley Hull Charges Up Leaderboard at CME Group Tour Championship

Related Articles