Cameron Davis
(Golf Australia Photo)
SOUTH MELBOURNE, Australia (October 13, 2016) --
Cameron Davis, one of Australian golf’s hottest
properties, is turning professional.
Davis will join the paid ranks at next
week’s Isuzu
Queensland Open and soon afterwards with a start on
the US PGA Tour.
The 21-year-old Sydneysider is changing status a
day after reaching a career-high No.4 in the world
amateur rankings, a perfect time to make the transition.
“I’ve gone up in the rankings a little bit with some
recent performances and been getting noticed a bit
more for my golf in different places, so in terms of
opportunities around the world, I think now is the best
time,” Davis said with typical understatement.
“I didn’t necessarily have all the results I wanted in
the American summer, but all the stats are telling me
I’m ready to go and finally the results in the past few
weeks have shown that, too.”
Davis won the 2015 Australian Amateur
Championship, but had last summer ruined by a hand
injury that kept him out for several months. But after
rehab, the results have come with a rush for the tall
right-hander who led his New South Wales team to a
pulsating victory in the Interstate Series in Brisbane in
May, then played with distinction in both Europe and
North America, including a course record at Rowallan
Castle in Scotland.
But his most decisive moment came at one of the
most important times imaginable for any aspiring
amateur. Davis was nothing short of sensational in
churning out an individual score of -17 in Mexico to
spearhead Australia’s domination of the Eisenhower
Trophy, leading his nation to a stunning 19-shot
triumph and the world team championship.
His winning personal total was also good enough to
earn him a start, as either amateur or professional, in
November’s OHL Classic at the same venue as two of
his magical Mexican rounds, Mayakoba.
That his professional debut will also come at The
Brisbane Golf Club, where he shone in May, and then
continue at another happy hunting ground in Mexico
just helped convince Davis the time was right, especially
after his bold showing at last week’s Asia-Pacific
Amateur, when he followed a second in 2015 with a
fourth placing.
“It will be totally different set-up on the courses
and different pressures, for sure. But I have seen a lot
of putts drop in on those courses and seen some good
shots, too,” he said.
“I think that will help settle the nerves and if I can
play steady golf the way I have been lately, I feel like I
won’t be lost out there.
“I continue to learn a lot, even in Korea last week,
and hopefully it will all make me a better player.”
Golf Australia high performance director Brad
James said Davis’ often-understated ways belied his
desire and skill within.
“It’s a great achievement. Cam was identified 4-5
years ago and at that time he was very much under the
radar. He certainly had a lot of potential, but he’s
worked extremely hard on his pathway,” James said.
“Each year he’s got better and better. Now it’s time
for him to transition to the next level and that’s what
we’ve been striving for.
“He is certainly a quiet achiever. But at the same
time he’s someone who has a lot of inner confidence.
The external confidence isn’t something he shows, but
deep down he has a great belief in what he’s doing and
a great desire to be one of the best players in the
world.”
James said the twin Eisenhower triumphs had been
no surprise to those who watched him work, including
New South Wales national coach Dean Kinney.
“He’s certainly been building to that for about 18
months and I think he’s finally got that inner belief that
he belongs at that elite level. Now we’ll see how much
those victories will help when he transitions to the pro
level and starts competing against the world’s best.
James lauded the NSW team behind not only Davis,
but several of his impressive peers.
“What Dean and his service team have
implemented over the past 2-3 years and the changes
they’ve implemented is really being displayed in the
past 12 months at the amateur level and the tier 2
professional level – it’s really showcased their
program.”
An emotional Davis was full of praise for his family
and those who’ve helped shape his career to this point,
dating back to his original coach Jim Ballard at Killara
Golf Club and all at the Roseville Golf Club where he
first won a club championship at age 13.
“All at Roseville took me in and were very
supportive in allowing me to play against the older guys
and even in pennants at a young age – that was very
important to get that exposure at a higher level when I
was so young,” he said.
“Monash (his current club) has been fantastic, too.
They’ve shown great understanding of my direction and
allowed me to go away and do the things I’ve needed to
do to reach this stage.
“I’d also like to give a huge thanks to my coach
Khan Pullen, who’s just been unreal. He and Dean have
taken my game to another level and I can’t say enough
about them as people, not just coaches.
“Everyone at Golf NSW and Golf Australia has been
great with all the positive support and feedback they’ve
put into me. For them to think I was worth all the time
they put into me was unbelievably important and I
wouldn’t be here without them.
“I’m very happy to be part of those programs and
it’s really overwhelming when you look back and see
who played a part in getting me here.”
Davis will drop out of the GA national squad, but
become part of the GA rookie squad in 2017.