Charley Hull is youngest to wrap up Order of Merit

Perhaps it was just typical teenage indifference, or maybe because Charley Hull has long been earmarked for greatness. But in becoming the European No 1 seven months after celebrating her 18th birthday, she is now the youngest in history to capture the seasonal money crown.

Charley Hull of England is the youngest Ladies European Order of Merit winner at age 18.  Warren Little / Getty Images
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DUBAI // The answer was brief, but it illustrated plenty.

Asked in the moments after sewing up the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit what the title meant to her, Charley Hull sounded almost blase.

“Yeah, it’s really good,” she said after finishing her season with a final-round 70 on Saturday at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.

“It’s good to win.”

Well, that is that, then. Perhaps it was just typical teenage indifference, or maybe because Hull has long been earmarked for greatness. But in becoming the European No 1 seven months after celebrating her 18th birthday, she is now the youngest in history to capture the seasonal money crown.

“Age is just a number,” Hull shrugged.

It certainly seems so. The number that mattered coming into Dubai this week was the €22,715 (Dh103,229) lead Hull held over Gwladys Nocera, the experienced Frenchwoman who was second in earnings.

Nocera’s joint-11th finish at Emirates Golf Club meant Hull’s share of fifth place was more than enough to secure the trophy.

All in all, it put the finishing touches on what has been a fine 2014 for the teenager, which included her first professional victory, a top-10 finish at a major championship and a move to 35th in the world rankings.

It all came only 12 months after she collected the tour’s top-rookie honours. It made for a nice back-to-back bounty.

“I wanted to do that because you only get one chance,” Hull said. “I’m happy. I’ve learnt a lot from this year and looking forward to the next.”

Hull’s celebrations were magnified by the fact that she passed the rookie-of-the-year title to Amy Boulden, a close friend. Boulden, 21, finished the tournament joint-24th, trumping Sally Watson, her closest challenger, for the award.

“It’s a massive deal to me,” Boulden said. “It was one of my goals at the start of the year, so I’m absolutely thrilled. Now I just look forward to next season.”

jmcauley@thenational.ae

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