Charley Hull thinks women’s golf has taken a big step forward after ‘really good’ developments

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Charley Hull is among a high-quality field taking on the PIF Saudi Ladies International this week as she makes her 2025 Ladies European Tour (LET) season debut.

Hull and Nelly Korda could face tough competition in 2025, with the American currently number one in the world rankings.

English star Hull meanwhile occupies 11th spot, and makes a return to the LET this week after finishing T19 at the Founders Cup on the LPGA Tour last week.

It is a first appearance for the 28-year-old on the former since winning the Aramco Team Series in Riyadh in November.

The event also takes place in Riyadh, and involves a 36-hole team competition that is played alongside a 54-hole individual stroke play event.

Charley Hull praises $5million PIF Saudi International prize purse

The latter three-day contest involves a record prize purse of $5million, which is equal to the men’s equivalent tournament of the PIF Saudi International.

READ MORE: The average round time at the least LPGA event compared to the PGA Tour and LIV Golf after Nelly Korda’s criticism

Delighted with the increased prize purse, Hull said in her opening press conference: “It’s really good and moves the game forward. It’s pretty cool to have the same prize money as men. So I think it’s really, really good.”

Charley Hull wants ‘to be an athlete’ as she shares main goal for 2025

Given her current status, Hull is among the favourites to emerge victorious at the PIF Saudi Ladies International.

But it is Patty Tavatanakit who is out to defend her title at the tournament this week, with Riyadh Golf Club playing host.

READ MORE: How Nelly Korda and Charley Hull’s driving distance and approach play compared to Scottie Scheffler’s and Xander Schauffele’s in 2024

Hull plays golf for the trophies and can add to her superb honours list in Saudi Arabia, but it is away from the course where her main goal for 2025 lies.

“It’s not really a golf course goal,” said Hull. “I want to try and get my 5k run down to 20 minutes by the end of the year.

“It’s 26 minutes [at the moment]. I don’t train in golf. I have zero interest in training in golf. I don’t want to just be a golfer.

“I want to be an athlete. I train because it’s good for my mental health and it’s good for me. I just enjoy it as a hobby.”