Davies turns her form around
England’s Laura Davies has staged a remarkable comeback to form this season and she goes into the final major, the Weetabix Women’s British Open, as a genuine title contender.
The 42-year-old former world number one has even been handed the honour of playing in the first day’s star group at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s tomorrow beside 16-year-old American Michelle Wie.
Davies has not won in 28 months, while Wie tied for second behind Australian Karrie Webb in last week’s Evian Masters in France.
The big-hitting Briton admitted that coming so close in elite company was a huge confidence enhancer.
She started the season by missing seven cuts out of eight in America and after failing to break 80 in a couple of rounds she admitted that she feared her career might be over.
Davies explained: “I have never been so low. It was embarrassing.
“I pulled out after I shot 83 in the first round of a tournament in Atlanta and it got so bad that I struggled to take the club back.
“It had happened before with the driver, but this was with every club and it got quite scary. Golf is the only thing I’ve ever been good at. To lose it was a shock.
“But then I came back to Europe and shot 66 in the first round of the Swiss Open. It was just a different tour, a different mindset. I went on to finish second and suddenly all the nonsense was behind me.
“Evian was the best I’ve played under pressure for years. I’m sorry I didn’t win because it’s been a long time, but it lifted my confidence through the roof.”
Wie is also on a high of confidence, and she admitted she loves links golf. Even today’s fierce winds reminded her of home in Hawaii, although not as hot.
“The wind beats you up but links golf is such fun,” said the player who tied for third as an amateur on her debut at Royal Birkdale last year and is looking to finally claim her first professional win after several close misses.
World number one Annika Sorenstam starts as favourite, and was described by Davies today as “pound-for-pound, the best golfer ever“.
The Swede won her only British title at Lytham three years ago, and said: “I have great memories of the course and love links golf.”
Sorenstam believes she has had “an up-and-down season” but she has won twice, including last month’s US Women’s Open, and she drew level with good friend Tiger Woods with 10 career majors.
He jumped ahead with his British Open Championship win at Hoylake, and Sorenstam admitted the prospect of drawing level again on Sunday did provide a little extra motivation.
She said: “I always seem to be trailing and it doesn’t take long before he’s texting me to remind me he is ahead. It’s a fun little game we have.”
