Ice cream? Not for me – Hull makes strong startImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Charley Hull is three shots off the lead, a score achieved without the aid of ice creamByJoe BradshawBBC Sport senior journalistPublished30 minutes agoLeaderboard: -8 A Iwai (Jpn); -6 P Delacour (Fra); -5 C Hull (Eng), M Stark (Swe), R Haeran (Kor), I Jin Hee (Kor); -4 C Gainer (Eng), L Woad (Eng), J Yan (US), R Yin (Chn), B Henderson (Can), E Hara (Jpn), M Kang (Kor)Selected others: E L Maguire (Ire); +2 L Walsh (Ire); +3 N Korda (US); +5 M Rhodes (Eng)Charley Hull laughed off suggestions her caddie’s ice cream helped fire her to third place after day one of the Evian Championship in southern France.The 30-year-old was spotted holding the sweet treat on the 15th hole before closing with two birdies and an eagle to end her day at five under par, three shots behind Aki Iwai of Japan’s lead.”I didn’t eat it,” she reported. “My boyfriend got it for my caddie, so I held it for a minute when he was putting my club in the bag!”In sweltering conditions, Hull was two over par after six holes but recovered to find five birdies over her next 11 holes before picking up two shots at the par-five 18th.Her score of 66 is her joint-lowest first round in a major.At the top of the pack, Iwai went bogey-free in her fine round of eight under par and is two clear of Perrine Delacour from France.Hull shares third place with three other players, while compatriots Lottie Woad and Cara Gainer are a further shot back at four under.World number one Nelly Korda, who won the first two majors of the 2026 season, has work to do on Friday after shooting a three-over 74 to languish in a share of 102nd place.Hull bounces back after Evian collapseImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Hull says caddie Adam Woodward ate the ice cream on the 15th holeLast year at the Evian Championship, Hull was forced to withdraw after collapsing twice during her first round.
She later explained she had been “battling a virus” and was treated at the Evian-les-Bains course without requiring a hospital trip.
Her opening day was much more successful this year, albeit after a slow start.
In temperatures pushing 30C, Hull reported she enjoyed being in the heat, even if she avoided indulging in the ice cream.
“I like the heat on my back because I have a few injuries,” she reported. “The warmer it is, the more I am able to move.
“I just drink loads of water on every hole and have loads of electrolytes. I eat every other hole – but I didn’t eat the ice cream.”
Still searching for her first major title, Hull has finished second in three out of the five tournaments on the LPGA circuit, including at last month’s US Open.
In total, she has five runners-up finishes at golf’s biggest events since her maiden appearance in 2012. Her previous first-round best of 66 was also at the Evian Championship in 2022, when she finished in a tie for third
