05 Oct 2020 | Professional golf |
Davis bows down to legendary Sergio
by Martin Blake
Cameron Davis had a flirtation with the big time again in Mississippi today, but ultimately had to doff his hat to the brilliant Sergio Garcia.
The young Australian played in the final group of a PGA Tour event for the first time, alongside a legend in Garcia, tied for the lead as the day began at the Sanderson Farms Championship. But Davis, 25, shot a closing 72, even-par, to slide to tied-sixth position, still his highest finish on the tour. He never brought the game that took him to a 63 on Saturday at Jackson Country Club, and it was evident right from the time he missed birdie putts from inside two metres at both the first two holes. Two birdies on the back nine meant that he hung in, but his chance had passed by then. Sydney's Davis, the 2015 Australian Amateur champions and the 2017 Australian Open winner, is playing his third full season on the tour. He made $US857,000 last season and reached the playoffs for the first time. On Saturday, he said he believed that he could compete on the main tour and that he had developed "a comfort level thing" alongside the best players on the planet. But today everyone was blown away by Garcia who hit two of the best shots of 2020 -- a fairway wood that set up eagle at the par-five 14th hole, and a short iron from 155 metres at the 72nd hole that stopped just behind the flag.
The first hauled him back into a share of the lead from two back; the second gave him the birdie at 18 that he needed to win for the first time in America since his Masters triumph of 2017.
Last week, Garcia dropped out of the world's top 50 for the first time since August, 2011. Apparently, it stung him. He came to Mississippi and closed his eyes for his putts. He was breathtaking.
As for Davis, the experience will surely be invaluable.
FOUR ROUNDS in the 60s gave Australian Brett Coletta his best finish this year on the Korn Ferry Tour, tied-third in the Savannah Golf Championship.
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