Charley Hull has found herself at the centre of an unexpected backlash ahead of the AIG Women's Open after a prank on her long-time caddie, Adam Woodward, left some golf fans questioning whether the joke went too far.
The English golfer had intended the stunt as light-hearted fun. Instead, footage of Woodward believing he had won a huge cash prize has sparked a wave of criticism online, with some viewers branding the prank cruel and uncomfortable rather than funny.
Hull revealed the incident during her pre-tournament media conference at Royal Lytham & St Annes, where she explained how she had picked up a fake scratch card from a prank shop in Blackpool.
Charley Hull's £100,000 Scratch Card Prank
According to Hull, she bought several fake scratch cards the night before and brought them into the players' lounge the following morning. She presented one to Woodward as though it could be worth $100,000.
Woodward, who has worked as Hull's caddie since 2015, apparently had no reason to suspect that the card was fake. He scratched it and quickly became convinced that he had landed the enormous prize.
Hull described his reaction in vivid detail, saying he took off his hat and glasses before running around the players' lounge celebrating his supposed win. She said he was sweating and trembling with excitement and was even telling people that he was taking the day off.
The celebration came to an abrupt end when Woodward discovered that the scratch card was not genuine.
Hull told reporters that her caddie 'nearly quit the job' after learning the truth. She also admitted that she expected some form of revenge, joking that she would have to watch her back over the coming weeks.
Fans Question Whether the Joke Went Too Far
While Hull clearly saw the incident as harmless fun, the reaction from some golf fans was very different.
GolfMagic reported that the response on X was largely critical, with fans questioning the decision to make Woodward believe he had won £100,000. Some described practical jokes of that nature as cruel, while others argued that the emotional high of believing he had won such a significant amount of money made the prank uncomfortable to watch.
Charley Hull jokes about pranking her longtime caddie Adam Woodward with a fake £100k winning scratch card: “His face looks so happy. He was sweating. He was trembling. He couldn't believe his luck, & we had to tell him it was fake & he nearly quit the job… It is just absolutely hilarious.”
by u/swaggerific in golf
One fan described the prank as especially cruel, while another simply questioned what was supposed to be funny about the moment. Other comments suggested Hull should make it up to Woodward, with one supporter joking that she should pay him the bonus for real.
The backlash was not completely unanimous, however. Some supporters defended Hull and saw the prank as an example of the playful relationship between a golfer and her caddie. Others called it classic Charley Hull and praised the team chemistry behind the joke.
That divide has made the prank a talking point beyond the usual pre-tournament build-up.
A Long-Standing Player-Caddie Partnership
Part of the criticism appears to stem from Woodward's long association with Hull. The pair have worked together for more than a decade, making their professional relationship an important part of Hull's career.
Caddies play a significant role in professional golf, from providing yardages and helping with strategy to supporting players through the pressure of tournament competition. That close working relationship can often involve plenty of teasing and banter, but it can also make public pranks more open to interpretation.
There is no indication that Woodward has publicly condemned the prank. In fact, Hull herself framed the episode as a joke and suggested that the real concern now was what her caddie might do in retaliation.
The incident also fits with Hull's increasingly playful approach to golf away from competition.
Hull Brings Her Sense of Humour to the AIG Women's Open
The prank came just as Hull was launching her new YouTube channel, Sweet Spot Golf, with close friend Ryan Evans.
Hull has said the channel is not primarily about making money. Instead, she described it as a fun project built around her love of golf and the enjoyment she gets from playing with friends. The channel is intended to capture the banter, challenges and lighter moments that are often missing from the more serious side of professional golf.
The scratch-card stunt appears to fit that same personality, although the online reaction demonstrates how easily a joke can be viewed differently once it reaches a wider audience.
Attention Now Turns Back to Major Glory
Despite the controversy surrounding the prank, Hull's main focus remains the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The 30-year-old entered the championship ranked seventh in the world and is still chasing her first major title. She has already finished runner-up twice at the AIG Women's Open, in 2023 and 2025, and has five runner-up finishes across the women's major championships.
This year's tournament also carries an increased $10 million purse, a major talking point during Hull's pre-tournament media appearance. Hull has openly admitted that financial rewards help motivate her during major championships, saying she thinks she plays especially well when there is more money at stake.
For now, the £100,000 prank has given Hull an unexpected storyline before the tournament has even properly begun.
Whether fans eventually see it as harmless banter or a joke that crossed the line, one thing is certain: Charley Hull has once again managed to attract plenty of attention with her outspoken and playful personality.
