Charley Hull is not allowed to smoke on green

On a tough day, three of the 60 female golfers in the Olympic tournament hit 80-plus strokes. One of them, surprisingly, was Charley Hull, who hit 81 without a single birdie on the course. The Englishwoman is a proven player, having won two LPGA tournaments and, although she has yet to win a major, has finished in the top three in all five majors each season.

Last year she was part of the Solheim Cup team that won the cup in Finca Cortesín.

Charley Hull, statements

Hull, however, is best known for her habit of smoking on the golf course, which she says helps her keep her nerves in check after being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder last year.

And at Golf National, as an Olympic venue, smoking is banned – even for fans – which affects her. “I think it will affect my chances because it relaxes me a bit, but it is what it is,” she said before starting the first round.

“In my family, everyone smokes.” The result was certainly far from what was expected from the world number 1. According to Golf Digest, France recently launched a national campaign against public smoking, banning tobacco use in parks, on beaches and other public places, while also banning disposable e-cigarettes and announcing a price increase to 13 euros per pack to help create a smoke-free generation by 2032.

The Rules of Golf are a set of rules and standard procedures by which the sport of golf is played. They are written and administered jointly by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association.

An expert committee, made up of members from the R&A and the USGA, oversees and refines the Rules every four years. The most recent revision went into effect on January 1, 2016. Changes to the Rules of Golf generally fall into two main categories: changes that improve understanding of the Rules and changes that reduce penalties in certain cases to ensure balance.

The rule book, entitled “The Rules of Golf,” is published regularly and also contains rules governing amateur status. In Italy, the Federgolf is responsible for supervising competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R&A, checking that these rules are observed by clubs, associations and their members, and administering the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.