Davies has his eye on Ryder Cup spot
European Tour rookie Rhys Davies is the player really making his mark. Since the start of March he has had a win, two runners-up finishes – in the latest of them he lost by a shot to Luke Donald in Madrid on Sunday – and a third place.
If the former British boy champion, 25 last Friday, lifts this week’s Wales Open on the same course where the Americans will defend the trophy in four months’ time, he could well leap to seventh in the points race.
And with so many big names missing – Donald and Germany’s Martin Kaymer are the only two from the world’s top 30 in the field – Davies knows it is a golden opportunity.
“He will win many times,” Donald said of Davies after they battled head-to-head for the last 36 holes.
“This was my time, but he is a very tough competitor. He put a lot of pressure on me. He is very impressive – he has a great putting stroke and was very solid off the tee.”
The last shot played by a Welsh golfer in the match was Phillip Price’s dramatic winning putt against Phil Mickelson at The Belfry in 2002.
Price has no doubt that Davies has the qualities needed not only to make the team, but also to be a star of it.
“I think people are probably beginning to realise he’s the best putter in the world,” he said.
What also impresses Price is “his mind, his confidence, the way that he deals with pressure” and he adds: “I love what’s doing, so I probably wouldn’t advise him to do anything differently.”
In the first two rounds tomorrow and Friday, Davies partners defending champion Jeppe Huldahl and Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, another looking to continue his form after closing with a 65 for fourth place at the weekend.
Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie partners Spanish Open champion Alvaro Quiros and England’s Oliver Wilson. Quiros is currently in the last automatic qualifying position and Wilsonis four places below him.
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