Hull Holds Firm After Caddie Prank Backlash and Stays in Women’s Open Mix

What happened:

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIicZ04Pofg

The Guardian reports that Charley Hull shot a resilient 71 in the second round of the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes after sleeping only three hours the night before. The short night came amid continued fallout from Hull’s prank on caddie Adam Woodward, in which she made him believe he had won £100,000 from a fake scratchcard.

The reaction to the prank has become part of the tournament story. Laura Davies, one of the greats of women’s golf, called Hull’s actions “extremely cruel,” according to the report. Hull did not step back from the controversy. After previously telling critics to “loosen up,” she responded again after the second round by saying people who cannot accept criticism should “grow a pair of balls.”

Leaderboard context:

The confirmed golf detail is that Hull signed for 71, while Shiho Kuwaki set the early halfway lead at six under. The supplied report does not give Hull’s full tournament score, her exact leaderboard position, or the complete field standings, so the competitive read has to stay narrow: Hull avoided letting the off-course noise turn into an obvious second-round collapse.

That matters because major championship weeks can turn quickly when a player becomes the center of attention for something outside the scorecard. Hull’s round does not erase the controversy, but it does show that the backlash had not derailed her performance by the point covered in the source.

Tournament impact:

Kuwaki’s six-under mark is the key competitive reference point in the supplied story. It gives the field a target during the halfway stage and frames the pressure on players still trying to stay close enough for the weekend. Hull’s 71 is described as resilient, which suggests damage limitation more than a charge, but without the full score table the exact gap cannot be stated.

The larger tournament question is whether Hull’s week becomes defined by golf again or remains split between performance and reaction. Major championships reward rhythm, patience, and low-distraction decision-making. Hull has publicly chosen defiance rather than apology, and that posture may keep attention on her even if her scoring remains steady.

What to watch:

The weekend will clarify whether Hull’s 71 was a stabilizing round or just a pause in a more complicated week. Kuwaki’s position at six under also gives the championship a clear early benchmark, but the source does not confirm whether that lead held after all players completed the round.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the source: Hull shot 71 at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Shiho Kuwaki set the early halfway lead at six under, Hull’s fake scratchcard prank drew criticism, and Hull doubled down in response. Still unconfirmed: Hull’s exact position after the full round, the final halfway leaderboard, and whether the controversy affects her weekend scoring.