Charley Hull and Michael Brennan enjoyed a light-hearted moment alongside a strong start at the Grant Thornton Invitational, where the pair surged to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round.
The mixed-team event got underway on Friday, with Hull and Brennan combining superbly to post a stunning 17-under-par score, leaving them tied for the lead with Wyndham Clark and Lexi Thompson.
After the round, the duo spoke to the media about their performance, but the highlight came when Hull was surprised with a question from her 12-year-old niece, Pearl. Asked whether she was enjoying the week, Hull responded warmly, saying they were having plenty of fun and cheekily turned the question back on her niece.
Brennan quickly chimed in, agreeing that he was also having a great time.
Hull went on to say that Pearl’s witty remarks had been entertaining them throughout the event, admitting that her niece’s one-liners kept both players laughing.
The Grant Thornton Invitational features a 32-player mixed field, with 16 golfers each from the LPGA and PGA Tours. Big-name pairings this week include Nelly and Jessica Korda, Jason Day, Lydia Ko, and several other stars.
Speaking further in her post-round comments, Hull revealed she had been feeling uncertain heading into the tournament after recently making changes to her swing. She admitted that earlier in the week she struggled badly during practice and arrived on Tuesday unable to control the ball, which left her feeling nervous. However, she was relieved that everything clicked once the competition began.
Brennan praised Hull’s performance, crediting her steady play for setting the tone. He admitted he hadn’t been at his best in the days leading up to the event and feared a tough round, but said Hull’s early big putts and consistency helped them build momentum and settle into a rhythm.
Hull has already enjoyed a successful LPGA Tour season, highlighted by her victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship. She has made 14 cuts in 16 starts this year, with only two setbacks coming at The Chevron Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship.
Her recent results include a tied-19th finish at the CME Group Tour Championship, where she posted rounds of 69, 69, 68, and 71.
She has also recorded several standout finishes, including runner-up at the AIG Women’s Open, fourth at The ANNIKA and the HSBC Women’s World Championship, and top-12 finishes at both the U.S. Women’s Open and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
With strong form and plenty of laughter already flowing, Hull and Brennan look well-placed to remain in the title hunt as the tournament continues.
