Furyk hails sporting Davis

BRIAN DAVIS does not regret for a second calling a two-shot penalty on himself in America on Sunday night and losing a lucrative play-off because of it.

“Well obviously I want to win a PGA Tour event more than just about anything, but no victory would be worthwhile if it had a cloud hanging over it,” said Davis.

“I am proud to uphold the values that my parents taught me and I teach my kids the same stuff. Be honest in your sport and in your life and simply do your best. That’s all you can do.”

Davis birdied the tough final hole to tie with Jim Furyk at the Verizon Heritage in South Carolina.

The pair went back to the 18th tee at Harbour Town Golf Links and Davis found himself in trouble after sending his second shot off greenside rocks onto the beach, the ball resting amidst short reeds in a hazard area.

As American world number six Furyk stood over a five-foot par putt, Davis decided to play from where his ball lay for his third shot rather than take a penalty drop and leave himself a chip for par.

He chipped onto the green, but the shot proved irrelevant as Davis called a penalty on himself for touching a loose impediment with his club during his backswing.

Davis informed PGA Tour rules chief Slugger White, who after consulting with colleagues determined there had been a breach of Rule 13.4 and a two-shot penalty was in order, leaving Furyk with a simple putt for victory.

The 35-year-old Londoner, four times a runner-up in the States now, earned €459,000 rather than the €765,000 that would have been his if he had triumphed.

But his reputation is at an all-time high because of what he did.

“The rules are the rules. I am sure everybody has been penalised at some point in their career,” he said.

The former World Cup player, son-in-law of ex-England keeper Ray Clemence and based in Florida for the past five years, is managed and coached by former European Tour colleague Gary Evans.

Jim Furyk also paid tribute to the sportsmanship of Davis.

“To have the tournament come down that way is definitely not the way I want to win the golf tournament,” Furyk said. “It’s obviously a tough loss for him, and I respect and admire what he did.

“To be there and be in the battle and have an opportunity to win the golf tournament, and then have to call a penalty on yourself has got to be extremely disappointing. I admire him for what he did.

“It’s a testament to our game and the people that play on the Tour, and that we have so many guys that do that.”

Furyk said the manner of the victory had made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Davis, whose second place was his fourth runner-up finish in the last four seasons, said he had not felt his club brush the weeds.

“There was a little branch, one of the weed things sticking out, a big bunch,” Davis said.

“I didn’t feel it but I was pretty sure I saw something in the corner of my eye. So I asked Slugger to come over and check it on TV.

“And when he did check it on TV, I did indeed brush it on the way back, and the twig moved slightly, and obviously it was a two-stroke penalty.”