Hull overcomes Olympics setback for Women’s Open bid’

Britain’s Charley Hull is a rare European hope for this week’s AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews having seemingly turned a corner since her disastrous opening 81 at the Olympics earlier this month.

The 28-year-old from Kettering played the remaining three rounds at Le Golf National at eight-under par meaning that only a half-decent start might have put her in medal contention.

Hull then eased concerns over her relative lack of links form with an encouraging display at the Scottish Open at Dundonald last week.

While not getting ahead of herself, she is now dreaming of a first major victory at the home of golf.

To do that, she needs to go one better than last year’s runner-up finish to Lilia Vu at Walton Heath.

“It would be very special, it would be amazing,” she told BBC Sport after feeling “goosebumps” while walking up the famous 18th in practice.

Hull says she will rely on her caddie Adam Woodward to give her instructions on “tight lines” to combat the discomfiting influences of the Old Course’s often deceptively wide open views.

Hull has also worked on lower ball flights to combat expected strong winds. They worked well in Ayrshire last week, fuelling confidence for her tilt on the course where she first competed as a raw teenager in 2013.

“I’ve always said that as I get more mature with my golf game, I will understand it more and play better,” Hull said. “Last week coming fifth has given me a little bit of an insight into how I play links golf, which is good.”