Charley Hull aims to pack more of a punch after a new workout

Charley Hull believes the gruelling training schedule overseen by her fiancé will pay dividends at the US Women’s Open, which begins at the Country Club of Charleston on Thursday.

The 23-year-old has announced that she and Ozzie Smith, the Impact Fight boxer, are to marry in September, the week after the Solheim Cup. The pair linked up 18 months ago and Hull is certain that Smith’s influence has been hugely beneficial, particularly in the gym.

“Ozzie hasn’t got me doing any boxing yet, but he has got me doing a lot of cardio and stuff and I do feel really fit,” Hull said. “Being a lot fitter is definitely helping me and its great that he understands the challenges of professional sport, because when maybe I’m not practising as hard as I should, he makes me put that work in. He's my best friend as well, so we're similar. And he's really good for my golf.”

There has never been any doubting Hull’s talent, but it will be intriguing to see if Smith, who broke his hand in the process of winning the English super-middleweight title last month, can inspire the Kettering golfer to realise her vast potential.

The world No 25 is occasionally blighted by a long-time wrist problem and admitted to being sore when finishing fourth in California three weeks ago, Hull’s best finish since winning in Abu Dhabi in January. But she is confident of at least bettering last year’s US Women’s Open, in which she came in a tie for 10th. The USGA traditionally favours a testing set-up and that is ideal as far as she is concerned.

“I feel like it's more of a challenge and not as much of a birdie-fest,” Hull said. “Because when it's short and wide, it just turns into a putt-fest. I'm pretty straight and pretty long and I think you should get rewarded for good shots, not be able to get away with bad shots.  So I feel like major golf courses, when they have them set up tough, really suit me.”

Hull will be joined in the South Carolina field by the two other countrywomen in the world’s top 50. Georgia Hall, the Women’s British Open champion, will be desperate to rediscover her form after a mediocre spell. Hall, 23, began the year promisingly with a top 10 in Florida, but has yet to record a top 20 since and dropped to 20th in the rankings.

In light of this, England might have a greater shout of a first US Women’s Open title in 22 years with Bronte Law.

The 24-year-old from Stockport almost won her first LPGA crown earlier this month when beaten in a play-off at the Mediheal Classic - a career-best performance that helped her rise to 42nd in the world - and in Virginia this week, Law showed she remains in fine fettle by claiming a share of the lead after the third round on 13-under with Japan’s Nasa Hatakoa, with Hull on seven-under

It was another disappointment for Hall, though, as she missed the cut.