Charley Hull reveals she is suffering from degenerative arthritis, aged 28

Charley Hull’s freak shower injury last month was more serious than first thought with the golfer admitting on Tuesday that at just 28 she now has degenerative arthritis in her right shoulder.

The world No 11 confessed that she should not have played in the Evian Championship, the French major, where she missed the cut two weeks after the fall.

Hull wisely took a break afterwards, not appearing until the Olympics two weeks ago in Paris, where she impressively recovered from an opening 81 to play the last three rounds in eight-under.

She built on this to come fifth at the Scottish Women’s Open on Sunday and goes into this week’s Women’s Open here at the Old Course as the Briton with clearly the best chance. But her revelations in the media centre will inevitably cause consternation for the future of this brilliant ball-striker.

“I had acupuncture and needles in it, like, every other day,” Hull said. “I’ve actually got it [acupuncture treatment] after this [press conference]. Because when it’s cold, it can play up a bit. I’ve got degenerative arthritis, in it, as well. So when it does get cold, it gets a bit stiff. So just try to keeping it warm.”

Who knows what will unfold and if Hull will ever require surgery, which could range from minimally invasive arthroscopy to the worst-case scenario of needing shoulder replacement. Fortunately, medics insist that the condition can be managed with physical therapy and, perhaps, occasional cortisone injections to strengthen the muscles. For this week, however, it is not a concern. “I’m healthy and ready to go,” Hull said.

She is unashamedly confident and with good reason. Hull finished runner-up in last year’s Women’s Open, although that was at Walton Heath, which is not a links.

She has never excelled in the windy environs of seaside golf, but recently her coach, Matt Belsham, has been perfecting her knock-down shots and the improvement was obvious at Dundonald last week.

“I know my track record on this kind of course isn’t great, but I am feeling positive because I am learning every time and am enjoying it,” Hull said. “This is the Home of Golf and to win here would be very special and something you’d dreamed about since like you were a baby.”

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