 Rhys Davies has enjoyed five top three finishes in his rookie season |
Rhys Davies will bid to announce his arrival on golf's world stage by impressing at this week's US Open. The Welsh rookie made his major debut at the 2007 US Open at Oakmont as a qualifier and recalls being the unknown practising alongside Tiger Woods. Now Davies returns to the US Open three years later fifth in Europe and hoping to make a universal impression. "My US Open experience this time will be different, I am now trying to create a name for myself," said Davies. The 25-year-old has rocketed to 45th in the world in his rookie season on the European Tour after securing five top three finishes and enjoying a maiden win at the Hassan II trophy in Morocco. Davies, who has already qualified for next month's Open Championship at St Andrews, will travel to Pebble Beach in good form after back-to-back runner-up places at the Madrid Masters and the Wales Open.  | Hopefully this is just the start of things to come for me and this US Open will be a springboard and start to bigger and better things |
And Davies dreams of shining in the Californian sun to strengthen his push to earn a fairytale Ryder Cup debut to play America's best again in his home country when the tournament is played in Wales for the first time in October. Bumper Ryder Cup qualification points for Colin Montgomerie's European team are on offer in Monterey near San Francisco as Davies looks to show a worldwide audience why fellow golfers have hailed him the 'best putter in the world.' "My rapid rise is slightly unexpected but I knew I was capable of it," said the confident golfer from Bridgend. "So I was ready for reaching this stage of my career. And I my good golf mean I deserve what I have got. "I am trying to approach the US Open like any other tournament even though it is not. "It is a major and one of the biggest tournaments in the world but I will prepare like I always do and keep it very simple and try to give myself the chance to be a position where I can win with nine holes to go on Sunday." Davies, who played cricket for Glamorgan as a teenager, qualified for the 2007 US Open as a player on the United States' renowned collegiate system as he developed his golfing prowess at East State Tennessee University. Following his US Open bow, he recalled honing his now highly-regarded short game alongside world number one Woods on the practice green and Davies revealed being a little star-struck. | 606: DEBATE |
The Welshman missed the cut in 2007 to finish tied 123 after rounds of 74 and 83 - and the 2003 British Boys champion missed the cut at the 2009 Open at Turnberry. Now he is returning to play alongside the world's finest such as Woods, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood etc determined not just to finally survive a major cut but to show he has the quality, composure and mentality to be considered as a top 50 player. "Oakmont 2007 as very tough and it was a little difficult not to get star struck," Davies said. "Now I don't see them as stars but fellow competitors and people I'm trying to play against and beat. "This time I wouldn't expect anyone to notice me or know who I am. "But I will go about my business my way just like the other players do and if I can stay in my own zone I will have a better chance of doing well. "The tension of these events is what I took up the game for. "This is a massive time for me with world-class events coming thick and fast and, like most players, I love competing in the big events. "I love rubbing shoulders with big names in big groups out on the course.  Rhys Davies missed the cut on his major debut at the 2007 US Open |
"It's going to be mentally demanding and every aspect of your game is going to come under the most intense of pressure. "Having never played a US Masters and US PGA, it's difficult to compare, but people seem to think the US Open is the toughest of the lot." Davies is on the verge of breaking through the one million Euro mark and his course-record round of 62 on the Celtic Manor's 2010 Ryder Cup course has heightened romantic notions that he could return as part of Monty's team in October. Davies is just outside the qualification spots with two-and-a-half months remaining before qualification ends - but his new top 50 status should earn him a spot at August's US PGA Championship so three lots of major points would help. Davies is paired with Spaniard Pablo Martin and Aaron Baddeley of Australia for their first round starting at 2114 BST on Thursday and second round starting at 1544 BST on Friday. "I have been building up to this for a long time," said Davies. "And hopefully this is just the start of things to come for me and this US Open will be a springboard and start to bigger and better things."
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