Full Breakdown
Charley Hull’s Quadruple-Bogey Nightmare at the 2026 Women’s Scottish Open
7/24/2026, 2:34:02 PM
Background & Context
The ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open opened on Thursday, July 23, at Dundonald Links in Troon, Scotland. Hull, a three-time LPGA Tour winner and former world No. 7, entered the field alongside world No. 1 Nelly Korda, defending champion Lottie Woad and other top-ranked competitors.
Timeline of the Fifth-Hole Collapse
- July 23 – early afternoon: Hull reaches the par-5 fifth hole with a 15-foot birdie putt.
- First putt: The ball slides left-to-right, gains speed on the slope and rolls off the green into the rough.
- First chip: The ball fails to clear the false front and rolls back to Hull’s feet.
- Second chip: Same result; the ball returns to the fringe.
- Third chip: Repeats the previous two attempts.
- Club change: Hull swaps clubs and attempts a fourth chip, which finally stays on the putting surface but stops short of the hole.
- Final putt: Hull holes an eight-foot putt for a quadruple-bogey nine, completing a six-over 78 for the round.
Data & Statistics
- Hull’s round: 78 (+6), with one birdie, three bogeys and the nine-stroke hole.
- Shots on hole 5: Four chips and five putts after the initial birdie attempt.
- Leaders: Jenny Shin (South Korea) and Lauren Coughlin (USA) each posted 66 (-6).
- Field performance: 29 players failed to break 80; the day’s conditions produced unusually high scores on several holes.
On-the-Ground Reports
Commentator Richard Kaufman counted Hull’s shots, noting the sequence was “turning into a nightmare.” Hull’s playing partner, defending champion Lottie Woad, said the pin placement and wind made the green “a bit too close.” The incident drew attention as a rare example of a quadruple-bogey on a single hole in professional women’s golf.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Well, this is turning into a nightmare,” — Richard Kaufman, broadcaster
- “That front nine was very difficult. The wind was pretty strong from the get-go,” — Lottie Woad, defending champion
- “I didn’t play as badly as my score suggests,” — Georgia Hall, British Open champion
- “I made almost everything that I looked at today so that makes it a little bit easier,” — Lauren Coughlin, USA
Impact & What It Means
Hull’s six-over opening round places her well behind the leaders and forces a substantial comeback in the second round if she hopes to remain competitive. The episode underscores the volatility of links courses, where a single green can dominate an entire round.
What’s Next
The tournament’s second round is slated for the following day, giving Hull an opportunity to reset her scorecard. With the field already contending for the lead, her performance on Friday will determine whether she can stay in contention for the weekend’s title.
