Professional golfer Charley Hull will make her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut in the 2027 issue, according to a statement from the publication. The English golfer, who is now 30, turned pro in 2013 and quickly became the youngest player to represent Europe in the Solheim Cup at age 17. She has won three events on the LPGA Tour and climbed to a career-best ranking of No. 3 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings in February 2026.
Hull’s entry into the swimsuit edition follows a recent public comment she made to Joe Kinsey regarding an advertisement featuring actress and model Sydney Sweeney. Hull stated that she did not understand the backlash the ad received, describing it as a situation where people were making a big deal out of nothing. She noted that Sweeney was modeling for an advert and believed Sweeney owned the company involved.
The announcement arrives amid broader discussions in sports media about viewer engagement and broadcast formats. OutKick columnist Zach Dean highlighted Hull’s achievement while also addressing the performance of alternative sports broadcasts. Dean argued that declining viewership for shows like Pat McAfee’s Monday Night Football alt-cast is not a result of fatigue with specific personalities, but rather a general exhaustion with multiple broadcast options for the same event. He suggested that audiences prefer straightforward coverage without additional analytical layers or camera angles.
Dean extended this critique to NASCAR, citing network television data for the top series. He noted that only seven races this year aired on network TV, with the remaining 26 races broadcast on cable or streaming platforms. Specifically, Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race at Phoenix drew just 1.2 million viewers, a figure Dean described as unfathomably bad. He attributed this decline to the over-saturation of streaming and alt-broadcasts, arguing that simpler presentation methods are more effective for retaining audiences.
The column also touched on recent controversies involving national anthems in professional sports. Dean expressed fatigue with the recurring drama surrounding player conduct during pre-game ceremonies, referencing incidents involving LeBron James and WNBA players. He questioned whether such behavior still warrants significant public attention in 2026, suggesting that many fans have moved past caring about these specific instances of protest or performance. Dean characterized the ongoing cycle of outrage as unnecessary and preferred that fans simply ignore the behavior.