Fans’ Hall of Fame: Laura Davies

Laura Davies’ incredible success as a golfer means that she’s not only one of the most celebrated personalities in golf but, moreover, she’s one of England’s most decorated sportswomen. Awarded a CBE in 2000, Davies began her professional career in 1985, winning both ‘Rookie of the Year’ and ‘Order of Merit’ titles in her first season. She repeated the Order of Merit win again in 1986, before winning her first official Major, the U.S.Women’s Open, in 1987.

Prior to this, she had been triumphant at the British Women’s Open in 1986 (before it was considered a Major), and she subsequently went on to win three further Majors in her career. In 1988 Davies became the first woman ever to rank number one on all three major women’s tours in the same year, including the LPGA Tour and European Tour.

In 1994 she became the first golfer to win on five different golf tours in one calendar year, and she was the first European player to be ranked unofficial number one in the world. She’s amassed an astonishing 81 professional victories worldwide.

Davies will also forever be synonymous with the Solheim Cup, having been the only player to represent Europe in every match since the inaugural event in 1990. She is the all-time leading point scorer in the competition, with a tally of 25 points to date.

Career Highlight

In such a glittering career, and with such a unique character, it’s hard to single out one highlight for Davies. Perhaps it would be one of the four Majors? Or maybe it’s her Solheim Cup record?
Then again, it would be typical Davies to say that the most rewarding aspect of her career has been the charity work.

I personally think that while her stellar career has been peppered with fantastic individual achievements, it’s the legacy and influence on women’s golf that Laura Davies will be remembered for most.  There are very few golfers who you can say that about.

Fans’ Favourite

Laura Davies can do what every amateur golfer aspires to. Blessed with an extraordinary amount of natural talent, she hardly practices, has a natural swing, doesn’t use a tee, and hits the ball hard and long. It’s seemingly effortless golf of the highest quality, played to a standard that’s enabled multiple Major wins, 81 professional career victories, and an unprecedented record in the Solheim Cup. In the hands of someone less humble or gracious, it may be a little infuriating. But Davies achieves all of this with a warming sense of humility that endears her to the golfing, and indeed sporting, public.

Having made numerous appearances as a commentator and guest on the BBC golf coverage, and programmes such as ‘A Question of Sport’, Davies comes across as being ‘one of us’, and a ‘fan’ herself. If evidence were needed, as a mad keen football fan, Davies was once fined by the Ladies European Tour for watching the England v Spain Euro 96 football match on a portable TV during the Evian Masters. Of course, undeterred by the distraction, Davies went on to win the event!

You get the feeling that to Laura, golf is purely about the enjoyment. Of course she’s incredibly competitive, and a fantastic ambassador for the sport too, but the impression is that she’d be just as happy making up the numbers in your Sunday fourball as she is playing on the biggest stage in women’s golf.

Quite simply, we all wish we could play golf the ‘Laura Davies’ way.