Rhys Davies (golfer)

Rhys Davies (born 28 May 1985) is a Welsh professional golfer.

Rhys Davies
Personal information
Full name	Rhys Davies
Born	(1985-05-28) 28 May 1985 Edinburgh, Scotland
Nationality	Wales
Residence	Bridgend, Wales
Career
College	East Tennessee State University
Turned professional	2007
Current tour(s)	Challenge Tour
Former tour(s)	European Tour Asian Tour
Professional wins	5
Highest ranking	44 (20 June 2010)[1]
Number of wins by tour
European Tour	1
Challenge Tour	4
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	DNP
PGA Championship	T62: 2010
U.S. Open	T74: 2010
The Open Championship	CUT: 2009, 2010, 2011

Davies was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, but has lived in Wales for the majority of his life. He played collegiate golf in the United States at East Tennessee State University where he won ten times and was a first team All-American in 2005, 2006, and 2007. He played on two Walker Cup teams (2005 and 2007), and was second in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (May 2007), before turning pro in September 2007.

Davies successfully came through the Asian Tour's qualifying school, allowing him to play on that tour for the 2008 season.

Davies won twice on the Challenge Tour in 2009 and finished fourth on the Challenge Tour Rankings to earn his European Tour card for 2010. He won his first European Tour title at the 2010 Trophée Hassan II.[2] At the 2010 Celtic Manor Wales Open, he shot a final round 62 to set the course record on his way to finishing as runner-up. This performance elevated Davies into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time. He finished the season ranked 18th on the European Tour Order of Merit. After a poor 2012 season, Davies narrowly failed to maintain his full playing rights for the 2013 season.

In 2013 Davies was close to regaining full European Tour playing rights finishing 23rd on the Challenge Tour, however, 2014 was less successful when his final Challenge Tour ranking was 54th. Davies earned his first professional win in five years at the 2015 Turkish Airlines Challenge on the Challenge Tour, and followed this three months later with victory at the Challenge de Espana, when he opened with a first round 60. These successes helped Davies secure eighth position on the Challenge Tour order of merit, and full European Tour status.

Before deciding to make golf his career, Davies played cricket at junior level for both Glamorgan and Wales and was included in the England under-15 and under-17 squads, the latter included Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Alistair Cook and Samit Patel who would play Test cricket subsequently.