Team GB golf star Charley Hull who went viral for smoking at US Women's Open fears her gold bid will be hampered by ban on Paris course

Team GB golfer Charley Hull fears a smoking ban at the Olympics could hurt her chances at winning a gold medal in Paris this week.

The Englishwoman has been told she cannot smoke while playing at the Paris 2024 Games - a habit which she says helps to control her ADHD.

Hull went viral at the US Women's Open this summer after she was pictured with a cigarette hanging off her mouth while signing an autograph for fans.

But while the John Daly-esque moment saw the World No 11 become a US Open cult icon, she will not be able to light up on the course this week.

Charley Hull established herself as a US Open cult icon with a John Daly-esque viral moment

The 28-year-old from Kettering, who has already begun playing at Le Golf National today, said: 'Yeah, I do smoke on the course, it's just something I do.

'It's a habit but I won't do it this week.

'I don't think you're allowed.' 

Hull, who previously admitted everyone in her family smokes, says she very much fears the smoking ban could hamper her performance at the games.

The golfer was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) last year and says lighting a cigarette helps to control the condition.

Asked whether not being able to puff on the grounds will affect her game, she said: 'Yeah, I think it willl.

'It relaxes me a little bit. But it is what it is. '

It comes after Paris 2024 organisers made clear that a smoking ban will be in place at all Olympic venues.

The golfer said smoking during games helps to control her ADHD and 'relax a little'

The two-time winner on the LPGA has been told she cannot smoke while playing the Games in Paris

The two-time winner on the LPGA has been joined by close friend and fellow British star Georgia Hall to represent Team GB.

While this is Hull's second Olympic appearance, after finishing seventh at the Games in Rio in 2016, this week is Hall's debut at the Games.  

The clip of Hull smoking at the US Open quickly flooded social media and even sparked comparisons with Daly, but Hull said she was left baffled by the attention it sparked.

She laughed it off at the time, saying that her entire family smokes, with her 'dad going through 40 a day'. 

In an exclusive interview with Mail Sport this week, she said of the hysteria it caused: 'It was crazy... not really what I was expecting, but I guess it shows that any publicity is good publicity.

'I'd rather make the headlines for my golf, but hopefully, it helped to attract a few new fans to golf!'

She has previously said the reason she picked up smoking was to quit her vaping habit. 

Hull has teamed up at Le Golf National with close friend and fellow British star, Georgia Hall (L)

The 28-year-old is no stranger to representing Team GB, previously doing so at Rio 2016

The Paris 2024 Olympics is Hull's second, after she pulled out of the pandemic-delayed Games in Tokyo in 2021, admitting it was the bubble restrictions that ultimately forced her decision.

She said of the decision: 'It was the right thing to do at the time, but it makes me even more excited for Paris as Rio was such a long time ago.'

And getting to do it with her close friend has made it even more exciting. 'We have known each other since we were 11 and grew up practicing together. It’s perfect to get to play with my best mate,' she said. 

The childhood pals have proven to be a formidable pairing in the past helping Europe crush the American Dream at the past three Solheim Cups. 

Most recently, they teamed up at the Dow Championship, something which they claimed was a 'no-brainer.' 

Hull also has a special relationship with the Solheim Cup after becoming the youngest player to take part in the competition at the age of 17. 

But, while the concept of playing for a country - or continent - is not a foreign one to Hull, she insists there's a unique element to the Olympics. 

'It’s more personal at the Olympics as we are playing individually for medals,' she says. 'Whereas Solheim, although we can win individual matches, there is only one team that wins at the end of the week. You could play really well all week but still lose as a team to the US whereas at the Olympics if I play well I have a chance of a medal.' 

This will be Hull's second time representing Team GB at the Olympics after pulling out of Tokyo's 2021 delayed Games 

She split from Geordie Shore star Gaz Beadle (pictured) earlier this summer

Hull was previously married MMA fighter Ozzie Smith but divorced after two years

Hull's Olympic appearance comes just months after it emerged she had split from Geordie Shore boyfriend Gaz Beadle.

The pair had begun dating shortly after the 36-year-old reality star announced his split from estranged wife Emma McVey in October 2023.

But in June it was claimed the relationship had come to an end after the couple were said to have struggled to make it work and things had fizzled out.

A source told The Sun: 'It's a real shame but having a full-on relationship was just too hard. Charley is super busy with work and Gaz also has a lot going on.'

'He's trying to juggle seeing his kids with working – and it all got a bit much.'

Hull was previously married MMA fighter Ozzie Smith with the couple tying the knot in 2019 but they divorced just two years later.

Opening up about her love life, Hull admits she will be steering clear of any athlete power couple moves for the time being.

'I've dated guys who golf and guys who don't,' she said.

'It's definitely easier if they do because that's my spare-time passion too. If they don't play, it's harder for us to connect. I've had a taste of high-profile relationships, but I didn't love everything that came with it, so I'm steering clear of that for now.'

Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport, she said she will be steering clear of high-profile relationships for the time being 

And she admits that establishing a new relationship amid the exhausting schedule of a professional golfer is no easy feat. 

'With all the practice and travel I do, my time is seriously limited,' she adds, explaining her decision to get behind a new dating app, Rizz. 

'Finding time to meet new people and really get to know them is tough. Anyone I connect with has to be cool with that and able to build a real bond over FaceTime and texts.

'In dating, making time for your partner and building trust through open communication is key. With that foundation, you can make a relationship work no matter how busy life gets.' 

As she juggles romance with life on tour, Hull said she often turns to her fellow pros for relationship advice.