New year, new season, and a fresh nickname for LPGA star Charley Hull as she returns to Cincinnati to defend her title at the Kroger Queen City Championship.

Eight months after capturing the 2025 crown with a stunning 20-under-par performance, the world No. 6 is back in the Buckeye State, ready to take on a new challenge. The tournament has moved to Maketewah Country Club—a course boasting the most single-digit handicap members in Ohio—after previous editions were held at TPC River's Bend and Kenwood Country Club. For Hull, the change in scenery is just another opportunity to prove why she belongs among the game's elite.

But it's not just her golf that has fans talking. Hull became an internet sensation during the U.S. Women's Open when she was spotted smoking on the course, earning the playful nickname "Smokin' Charley Hull." However, a bet with fellow pro Ryan Evans—who wagered £10,000 that she would quit—has since prompted a lifestyle shift. While Hull admits to using nicotine pouches now, she's embraced the evolution of her persona with a wink.

"Yeah, I quite like that," Hull said of her new moniker, "Lippin' Charley Hull." She added with a grin, "Better than lipping out. I don't want to be lipping out on putts."

And there's been very little lipping out lately. Hull's victory in Cincinnati last year snapped a three-year winless drought and sparked a career-best stretch. She closed the 2025 season with four straight top-20 finishes, including two top-fives, and earned $2 million on the year after making 14 cuts in 16 events. That momentum has carried into 2026, where she's already logged top-20 finishes in four of six starts.

With her game sharp, her confidence high, and a new nickname that suits her perfectly, Charley Hull is ready to defend her title—and maybe add a few more viral moments along the way.