Aussie of the month: Cameron Davis

Take a bow, Cameron Davis. The Seattle-based, Sydneysider claimed the second win of his PGA Tour career – at the same tournament – by winning the recent Rocket Mortgage Classic in Michigan in dramatic scenes. The 2021 champion at Detroit Golf Club, Davis looked all but certain to go into a playoff against American crowd favourite, Akshay Bhatia, when he finished the tournament at 18-under-par while Bhatia had a five-foot par putt to tie. But Bhatia missed, his only three-putt of the tournament, which handed Davis the win and its $2.5m prize. “I wouldn’t wish what happened to Akshay on anyone,” a humble Davis said afterwards.

The 29-year-old had endured a rough patch since a T-12 at the Masters in April, with his best finish in seven events coming in a T-38 at the Wells Fargo Championship. He missed the cut at both the PGA Championship and US Open and hadn’t posted a top-10 on the PGA Tour since the Shriners Children’s Open last October.

“I had a lot of support to get me out of the doldrums there,” he said. Davis also revealed he had been working with a hypnotherapist, Grace Smith, because he was falling out of love with golf. In her website bio, Smith describes herself as “the world’s No.1 provider of hypnotherapy education, products, and services”. It’s a huge confidence booster for Davis, a wildly gifted ball-striker and all-round great human being. Great stuff, Cam.

Golfers in the news

RUNS IN THE FAMILY: Here’s something that doesn’t happen often, or ever. Prior to the 152nd Open Championship, talented Gold Coast pro Elvis Smylie made it through 36-hole final qualifying for the UK major at Royal Troon. While that was happening, his mother, former doubles tennis star Liz Smylie, was commentating at Wimbledon. At the time, the left-handed golfer said, “I’ve already FaceTimed my dad back in Australia and he’s going to book a flight over. My mum is already over here commentating on Wimbledon, so everyone’s going to come and watch me at Troon.”

MORE OF THIS, PLEASE: In a historic moment for golf in the US and Australia, the US junior team took on an Australia junior side in a friendly, two-day competition at SentryWorld in Wisconsin. The event was made up of 12-player mixed teams featuring of some of the world’s top junior golfers, such as American stars Blades Brown and Asterisk Talley. Despite the US smashing Australia 19-5, the event was the first of its kind and will better expose Australian junior golfers to top US talent.

AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR CO-HOSTS: Melbourne Sandbelt gem Commonwealth Golf Club, as well as Cranbourne Golf Club, will play co-hosts at the 2025 Australian Amateur Championship. Commonwealth recently completed a restoration, and its new layout will be the primary host on all four days, while Cranbourne will co-host for the first two days. The Australian Amateur, created in 1894, will be held from January 14-17.

NSW OPEN UPS PRIZEMONEY: Golf NSW announced the NSW Open will move away from a March timing to November, with the 2024 edition to be held from November 14-17 with a boosted prize purse of $800,000.

Birdie (or should we say Eagles) of the Month: Matching aces

Ever heard of two players in matchplay halving a hole with an ace? Probably not, because the odds are 1 in 17 million. Yet recently, Ian Gompertz, from the Western Australian Golf Club, and Rob Clement, from Cottesloe Golf Club, were playing a match in Division 5 North men’s pennants at Sun City Country Club where they each made a hole-in-one at the par-3 14th. For the 159-metre tee shot, Gompertz used a 5-iron and Clement a 6-iron. Unfortunately for Gompertz, Clement took the match 4&3 and is believed to have been four-under-par when the tussle concluded.

Bogey of the Month: Timing issues

Critiquing an Australian Open on the Melbourne Sandbelt feels like looking a gift horse in the mouth. But it must be pointed out the Golf Australia organisation waited until 147 days before the Australian Open to announce its date and venue for the 2024 championship. It will be held from November 28 to December 1 at Kingston Heath (main host) and Victoria Golf Club (first two days), with its mixed-gender format returning. With Australian professionals based overseas preparing their end-of-year schedules and returns home, several player managers were waiting to hear when and where the Open would be played. And if we’re splitting hairs, November 28 is Thanksgiving in the US. It just makes it that much more difficult for American-based players, which includes Europeans, to travel Down Under. Still, it’s an Australian Open on the Sandbelt and fans can get excited for our national championship to be played on two of our greatest golf courses. 

Getty images: Gregory Shamus; Gary Lisbon