World No.9 Charley Hull: ‘I don’t want to just be a golfer. I want to be an athlete. I train for my mental health.”
Golf Saudi ambassadors Charley Hull, Ruoning Yin and Danielle Kang speak to media ahead of the PIF Saudi Ladies International
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [February 12, 2025] – As the PIF Saudi Ladies International tees off tomorrow, World No.11 Charley Hull is embracing the challenge, not just on the course but in her athletic pursuits beyond golf.
The English star, known for her fearless approach, emphasized her commitment to overall fitness and well-being ahead of the tournament at Riyadh Golf Club.
“My main goal actually isn’t on the golf course. I want to try and get my 5k run time down to 20 minutes by the end of the year. It’s around 26 minutes at the moment,” Hull revealed.
“I don’t train in golf. I have zero interest in training in golf. I don’t want to just be a golfer. I want to be an athlete. I train because it’s good for my mental health and it’s good for me. I just enjoy it as a hobby.”
Hull is set to team up with Germany’s Chiara Noja, whom she faced in a thrilling playoff battle at the 2022 Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Jeddah. Reflecting on Noja’s development, Hull praised her teammate.
“Yeah, she’s super. She’s a really good player. I’ve got Maria Fassi on my team as well. I think it’s just going to be super fun and it’s nice to have people to chat to out there. I just want to have fun on the golf course and feel like part of a team.”
The PIF Saudi Ladies International features a unique format with 28 teams of four professional as the top two scores on each hole count towards the team score. Hull sees this as an opportunity for more aggressive play.
“You obviously don’t have an amateur so with another professional and the top two scores counting, there’s plenty of chances to make a lot of birdies.”
One of the tournament’s most significant milestones is its equal prize fund to the men’s event, the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, an important step forward for women’s golf.
World No.3 Ruoning Yin is making her Saudi Arabia debut and shared her first impressions of Riyadh Golf Club.
“Well, I think the setup is pretty fair, and like Charley says, it’s a scorable course. If you’re striking it well, you can make a lot of birdies, and I think you’ll see we have a lot of birdie chances. I think the breeze is going to make this course a little bit trickier, but overall, it’s a good test for the field.”
Despite being the highest-ranked player in the field, Yin remains unfazed by expectations.
“No, I don’t think I feel any pressure. I come out to play each week. I just try to play the best and have fun.”
The tournament also features American star Danielle Kang, who has thrived in team formats throughout her career, captaining her team to victory at the 2024 Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Korea,
“I’ve always really liked competing in team sports in general. I like the team aspect of golf. The men have the whole team thing going on with LIV Golf, and they have something to move for that’s a team more than just you. I don’t know, I think it just brings out the best in me whenever I get to play for someone else.”
Kang is particularly excited to be teaming up with Ruoning Yin this week, highlighting their strong connection.
“It’s the best pairing I could have asked for. She’s like my little sister out here. She got to pick me, and I was actually watching her pick me on her phone.
“I was selfishly thinking that I’ve been going through so much stuff, and she was part of that process for me coming back and having her in the group with me would be really good for me, personally, to play the best that I could play.”
As the PIF Saudi Ladies International tees off, the world’s top players are ready to compete on one of the most exciting stages in women’s golf, with the historic prize fund setting a new standard for the sport.
