DUBAI // Having spent the best part of 2013 belying her tender years, Charley Hull is looking forward to spending the off-season simply being a teenager again.
“I’ve got my friend’s birthday next week, and then it’s just relaxing, going out Christmas, Boxing Day and stuff like that,” said the Ladies European Tour’s latest rookie of the year.
Hull, 17, finally sealed the season-long prize by finishing in joint-eighth yesterday at the tour’s season finale, the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, which was enough to edge Holly Clyburn for first-year honours.
Clyburn needed a big finish at Emirates Golf Club this week to catch Hull on the money list, but Hull, a long-time friend, was not in particularly courteous mood.
“It’s an honour to win it,” Hull said. “I’ve had a tough competition with Holly; she’s a great player and you can see me and her battling it out in the future.”
While Hull plans to celebrate with friends, she also will plot the next step in a career seemingly set for the stars.
Five runner-up finishes in her debut campaign and a standout display in the Solheim Cup confirmed her talent.
Currently without sponsors or endorsements, Hull will sit down with IMG, her management agency, to discuss potential deals – “the right ones”, her father said.
Hull just wants to keep improving. “Every tournament I’ve played this year I felt I could have easily won it,” she said.
“I just need to tidy up my mistakes. I’m going to work on everything. I can’t wait.
“I enjoy it as well, because me and my friends have chipping and putting competitions, and I can make a bit of money.”
With €135,994 (Dh499,315) in earnings, Hull need not worry. It was enough to finish €19,844 above Clyburn in the rookie race, as Clyburn’s challenge faded with a 79 in the final round.
“It was disgusting how I played today,” she said after finishing joint-39th.
“It’s been a fantastic season on tour, one I couldn’t have dreamt of, but there’s a lot of work to do. We’ll see how I come out next
season.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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