While Rhys Davies would dearly love to win his own National Open, the Welshman says he’s under no extra pressure to perform well at this week’s ISPS Handa Wales Open.
Davies is making his fifth straight appearance with his best result runner-up in 2010 to Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell who used the victory as a spring board into success a week later in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
'Tour Miss' with Welshman Rhys Davies. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Davies, who turned 27 yesterday (MON), first burst onto the international stage in playing in the 2005 GB & I Walker Cup side. He retained his place in the 2007 team at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.
He turned pro immediately before storming onto the main Tour on the back of two Challenge Tour victories in 2009.
Davies captured his first European Tour title in the first fully-Tour sanctioned 2010 Hassan 11 Trophy in Rabat, Morocco.
Since then the Edinburgh-born Welshman, who lives in Bridgend, has won over Euro 2m in prize money with four second place finishes and seven other top-10s with the lastest being his share of 10th in the Avantha Masters earlier this year.
“The Wales Open is always a great week and back to Celtic Manor, on a fantastic course, and one I really enjoy playing,” he said.
“At the moment the sun is shining, even better and there’s a really strong field. So, all in all, bodes for a good tournament and hopefully a good showing.”
There are eight Welsh in the field and with each, including Davies, looking to become the first home born winner since the event was first played in 2000.
“Winning your own National Open is something every player wants to achieve,” said Davies.
“It doesn’t matter whenever you play your national tournament, you definitely have that little extra enthusiasm.
“There is also a little extra excitement about the place.
“So, winning the Wales Open is something I want to do before I end my career, for sure. But then sometime you have to be careful not to try too much in wanting to win.
“At the end of the day, you have to treat it like a normal tournament but you definitely are more excited and yes, I’m looking forward very much to this week.
“I’ve had some good success on this course finishing second in 2010, so I’ve manage to return some good scores.”
Davies has been drawn to play the opening two rounds of the Stg 1.8m event in the company of Italian teenage sensation, Matteo Manassero and South African Jbe Kruger.
