Charley Hull: Second in a Major, now on to the next one
I love the weeks of the Majors, they’re my favourite tournaments and I’m buzzing for the rest of the season after coming up one shot short of Lydia Ko.
This was my fourth ANA Inspiration and I love the whole area. I know where I like to eat – the Cheesecake Factory and Babe’s, where I had the salmon every night, are brilliant – and I feel really comfortable on the course.
Going into the last round I was two off the lead. Then, after eight holes, I was two over but I stuck in there and made five birdies in the last 10 holes. I feel like I’ve matured a lot.
Before, if I was having a bad hole I would speed up, now I don’t worry about it and go with the flow. I think all that just comes with age and not getting ahead of yourself.
The Solheim Cup really helps to prepare you to go for birdies when you need them. In truth I didn’t look at the leaderboard on the Sunday.
It sounds silly but I was not bothered how anyone else was doing, I was just concentrating on my own game. I looked up once on 17 but couldn’t see my name as the screen just flicked over but I knew the leader Ariya Jutanugarn was -13.
I holed a putt from off the green to finish at 11 and then watched Lydia, who was level with me, hit a wicked shot to a foot. This was probably my best week ever.
A year ago I would be so chuffed to finish second in a Major, now it’s more I could have won and it’s on to the next one.
The Saturday was a bit like the Sunday. I was two over and then hit a driver off the fairway on 11 and that got me buzzing. In the end I finished with four straight birdies.
I love it when I get on a roll and, if I’ve made one, then I think why can’t I do it again. I always get a lot out of playing with Michelle Wie.
It’s pretty cool because you look back four years ago and think, wow, I’m playing with Michelle Wie and now you’re just playing with her in a third round in a Major.
It’s pretty awesome. That kind of inspired me when I was younger, and hopefully in a couple years’ time someone will come up to me and say, wow, I watched you when I was younger, now I’m playing with you in a Major, so it’s pretty cool.
We both had a cold so both sniffed our way round, she looked to be playing well and her new putting set-up seemed to be working and she looked pretty comfortable.
My caddy Adam Woodward was a huge help and I’m really lucky to have him. He won the ANA four years ago with Sun- Young Yoo, so to know he’s won Majors gives you a lot of confidence.
And he’s a lot of fun too which I like. We got in touch through Ian Poulter’s caddy, Terry Mundy, who gave me his number and thought we’d be a good mix.
That probably also helped with any nerves. In truth I didn’t really get too nervous, I slept fine on the Saturday and didn’t even think about the final round.
Once I’ve finished playing I don’t think about my golf, in truth I don’t really think about it too much on the course.
A lot of that is because I’ve got my friends back home and if I have a bad day then they are still there so I have a nice balance of golf and away from golf. And they don’t know much about golf or are bothered about it.
But I did get a lot of messages when I switched my phone on, something like 100 texts, 90 WhatsApps and loads on Facebook.
As a treat I’m taking a a couple of mates to Ibiza but for now I’ll be taking a few weeks off, chilling with friends and having fun rounds with a few mates.
