A Massive Saturday Charge Puts Charley Hull in Contention at Riviera

Charley Hull made a massive leap up the leaderboard this Saturday at the U.S. Women’s Open, firing a brilliant 6-under 65 to put herself right back in the mix at Riviera Country Club.

Starting the day way back at 3-over par (tied for 45th), the English golfer completely turned things around. She racked up seven birdies—including clutch back-to-back birdies on the final two holes—to vault into a tie for 8th place. Heading into Sunday’s finale, she sits just three strokes behind the co-leaders, Nelly Korda and Sei Young Kim.

Hull explained that her game felt solid all week, but she finally got her putter working. “I played really decent actually the first two days tee-to-green. Just couldn’t get a putt,” she noted. Her strategy for Saturday’s firm conditions was simple: stop overthinking and attack the pins. “Stuck in there and went at everything today. Just thought **** it.”

This kind of weekend surge is classic Hull. She pulled a nearly identical move at last year’s AIG Women’s Open in Wales, shooting a third-round 66 to jump 24 spots before ultimately finishing as the runner-up. Despite several close calls, including second-place finishes at three previous Majors—the 30-year-old is still hunting for her first career Major championship.

She seems perfectly comfortable coming from behind to get it.

“I kind of like chasing,” Hull said about Sunday’s challenge. “I find it more fun… I can then be free and just play golf how I want to play.”

Hull will tee off in the fourth-to-last group on Sunday at 12:05 p.m., paired with China’s Ruoning Yin.