Laura Davies

Laura Jane Davies CBE (born 5 October, 1963 in Coventry, England) is an English professional golfer.

She is considered the most accomplished English female golfer of modern times cite web
title = St Andrews To Honour Golfing Greats
publisher = University of St. Andrews
date = 2005-06-29
url = http://calvin.st-andrews.ac.uk/external_relations/news_article.cfm?reference=820
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ] cite web
title = Biographies Laura Davies Presenter
publisher = BBC
date = 2007-01-01
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/sport/lauradavies.shtml
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ] being the first non-American to finish at the top of the LPGA money list. She also won the LET Order of Merit a record seven times: in 1985, 1986, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2006. cite web
title = LET Player Profile
publisher = Ladies European Tour
date = 2007-02-12
url = http://www.ladieseuropeantour.info/profiles/010035.htm
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ] cite web
title = Laura Davies captures New Star Money List
publisher = LET
date = 2006-10-29
url = http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_article_print.php?Id=8006
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ]

She currently has 70 professional wins worldwide, 20 on the LPGA including four majors. cite web
title = Official Career Wins
publisher = LPGA
url = http://www.lpga.com/content/OfficialWins.pdf
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ] She is a member of U.S. based LPGA Tour and a life member of the Ladies European Tour. She needs only one major victory or two regular tour wins to enter the LPGA Hall of Fame. cite web
title = The Great Contradiction
publisher = GolfWorld
date = 2003-09-05
url = http://www.golfdigest.com/newsandtour/index.ssf?/newsandtour/gw20030905davies.html
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ]

Amateur career

As an amateur Davies was an international player for Great Britain with a notable record. She was the 1983 English Intermediate Champion, the 1984 Welsh Open Stroke Play Champion and the South Eastern Champion in both 1983 and 1984. She was also a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Team in 1984. cite web
title = The 33rd Curtis Cup
publisher = Curtis Cup
date = 2006-10-23
url = http://www.curtiscup.org/2004/history/previous_matches.html
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ] She turned professional in 1985.

Professional career

Laura Davies started her professional career on the WPGET (now LET) tour in 1985 when she won both Rookie of the Year and Order of Merit titles. She subsequently won the Sports Journalists' Association Peter Wilson Trophy as International Newcomer of the Year 1985. cite web
title = Past winners of the SJA Sports Awards
publisher = Sports Journalists' Association
url = http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/awards_sports.php?content=winners
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ] She repeated the Order of Merit win in 1986 having won four titles, one of which was the British Women's Open (prior to it becoming a major).

In 1987 she went to the United States and won the U.S. Women's Open in an 18-hole playoff against Ayako Okamoto and JoAnne Carner. It was a victory that led the LPGA to amend its constitution. Davies was not a member of the LPGA Tour, so the LPGA changed its constitution to grant Davies automatic membership. cite web
title = Laura Davies Full Career Biography
publisher = LPGA
url = http://www.lpga.com/content/2007PlayerBiosPDF/Davies-07.pdf
accessdate = 2007-03-15 ] Since 1988 Laura Davies has played on both the LPGA and LET tours.

In 1988 Davies won twice as a rookie on the LPGA Tour, three times on the LET Tour and once in Japan, becoming the first woman ever to win on all three major Tours in the same year. cite web
title = St Andrews To Honour Golfing Greats
publisher = University of St. Andrews
date = 2005-06-29
url = http://calvin.st-andrews.ac.uk/external_relations/news_article.cfm?reference=820
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ]

In 1990 she was a member of the inaugural European Solheim Cup Team. She returned as part of the winning European team in 1992. cite web
title = 1990-2003 Solheim Cup Teams
publisher = LPGA
url = http://www.lpga.com/content/Teams,%20Members,%20WinLoss%20Records.pdf
accessdate = 2007-03-10 ]

In 1994 she was the first golfer, male or female, to win on five different golf tours in one calendar year: US, Europe, Asia, Japan and Australia. cite web
title = Golf Tour For Women Tees Off With Hope
date = 1996-05-02
publisher = International Herald Tribune
url = http://www.iht.com/articles/1996/05/02/ian.t.php
accessdate = 2007-03-15 ] and became the first European player to be ranked unofficial number one in the world. She was named the Sports Journalists' Association Sportswoman of the Year 1995 and 1996.

Davies is the only player to participate in all ten Solheim Cup teams to date (1990-2007) on either the United States or European side. cite web
title = 1990-2005 Solheim Cup Teams
publisher = LPGA
url = http://www.lpga.com/content/MG07Solheim497-510.pdf
accessdate = 2007-10-04 ] cite web
title = Meet the 2007 European Solheim Cup Team
publisher = LPGA
url = http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?pid=12405&mid=1
accessdate = 2007-10-04]

Davies was part of the LPGA team at the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge three times between 1994 and 1996. cite web
title = The Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge
publisher = Wendy's
url = http://www.wendys3tour.com/aboutUs.asp
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ]

She represented England at the Women's World Cup of Golf in 2005 (with Karen Stupples), cite web
title = Australia, Sweden and England installed as favourites for World Cup
publisher = Women's World Cup of Golf
url = http://www.womensworldcupofgolf.com/cutenews/wwc_readfull.php?subaction=showfull&id=1108103667&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
date = 2005-02-11
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ] 2006 (with Kirsty Taylor) cite web
title = Creamer, Gulbis Ready to Take on the World
publisher = The Golf Channel
date = 2006-01-17
url = http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15104&select=18378
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ] and 2007 (with Trish Johnson). cite web
title = Sorenstam to miss Sweden title bid
publisher = CNN
date = 2006-11-123
url = http://www.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/golf/11/23/golf.women/index.html
accessdate = 2007-03-15 ] She was a Captain's pick for the International Team at the 2006 Lexus Cup. cite web
title = Final Star-Studded Line Up Unvieled as Players Commit To Prestigious Lexus Cup 2006
publisher = LPGA
url = http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?mid=2&pid=9148
date = 2006-11-30
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ]

In 2004 Davies was the first woman to compete in the men's European Tour, entering the ANZ Championship in Sydney, Australia. cite web
title = Davies out to prove she's cut above the rest
publisher = Sydney Morning Herald
url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/10/1076388369430.html?from=storyrhs
date = 2004-02-11
accessdate = 2007-03-16 ] cite web
title = Davies a shaker, not mover
publisher = Sydney Morning Herald
url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/12/1076548159248.html?from=storyrhs
date = 2004-02-13
accessdate = 2007-03-16 ] She failed to make the cut, finishing second to last.

Davies currently holds the LPGA record for most eagles in a season, scoring 19 during the 2004 season.

Other awards and honors

Davies was awarded an MBE in 1988 and a CBE in 2000. cite web
title = Sporting New Year honours in full
publisher = BBC News
date = 1999-12-31
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/584034.stm
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ] cite web
title = People's champions knighted
publisher = BBC News
date = 1999-12-31
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/583942.stm
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ]

Off-course activities

Davies published an autobiography in 1996.Laura Davies with Lewine Mair, Naturally...Laura Davies, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 1996, ISBN 0-74752-764-4]

Davies enjoys all sports and is an avid football fan and a Liverpool FC supporter. She organises the annual football match at the Evian Masters Tournament in France cite web
title = Davies and Johnson vs French World Cup team
publisher = LET
date = 2003-07-24
url = http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_content_news.php?Id=4203
accessdate = 2007-03-15 ] cite web
title = Game of two halves for footballing golfers
publisher = LET
date = 2004-07-23
url = http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_content_feature.php?Id=4475
accessdate = 2007-03-15 ] cite web
title = The annual football match at Evian
publisher = LET
date = 2006-07-26
url = http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_content_feature.php?Id=6626
accessdate = 2007-03-15 ] and she has in the past been fined by the Ladies European Tour for watching an England versus Spain European Championship football match on a portable television during the final round of the 1996 Evian Masters in France, a tournament she nevertheless won.

She is also the captain of the Rest of the World team in the annual Rest of the World V Australia cricket match held during the ANZ Ladies Masters. cite web
title = Inside the ropes at the ANZ Masters
publisher = LET
date = 2002-02-24
url = http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_content_feature.php?Id=4526
accessdate = 2007-03-15 ] cite web
title = ANZ Ladies Masters Cricket Test Match
publisher = LET
date = 2006-02-06
url = http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_content_feature.php?Id=5077
accessdate = 2007-03-15 ] In 2001, Davies joined the BBC Sport commentary team member at The Open Championship. cite web
title = Lineker and Davies join BBC Open team
publisher = BBC
date = 2001-06-29
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/the_open/bbc_coverage/1414254.stm
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ] and has regularly appeared in the commentary box for major golfing events on the BBC.

Davies has built a nine-hole golf course (one full size green and greenside bunker plus nine tees) in the garden of her house. In 2004 she hosted a celebrity fourball tournament for the charity Sport Relief. cite web
title = Davies stages garden party
publisher = BBC
date = 2004-05-26
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/sport_relief_2004/3750767.stm
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ]

Davies has always had an interest in gambling being a former bookmaker's assistant cite web
title = Gambler Davies faces full house in SAFECO Field
publisher = SeattlePi.com
date = 1994-09-15
url = http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/archives/1994/9409150058.asp
accessdate = 2007-03-15 ] and her interest has led to her becoming a racehorse owner. cite web
title = Owner's Champagne Moment
publisher = British Horseracing
url = http://www.britishhorseracing.com/owning_breeding/ownership/ownerFocus/3.2.5.3.1.asp?item=003406
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ] In 2006 Davies completed a 56 mile charity walk along the Great Wall of China to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital. cite web
title = Great Wall is no barrier for fund-raiser Davies
publisher = Daily Telegraph
date = 2006-10-13
url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/10/13/sgmair13.xml
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ]

Professional wins (69)

LPGA Tour (20)

* 1987 (1) U.S. Women's Open
* 1988 (2) Circle K LPGA Tucson Open, Jamie Farr Toledo Classic
* 1989 (1) Lady Keystone Open
* 1991 (1) Inamori Classic
* 1993 (1) McDonald’s Championship
* 1994 (3) Standard Register PING, Sara Lee Classic, LPGA Championship.
* 1995 (2) Standard Register PING, Chick-fil-A Charity Championship
* 1996 (4) Standard Register PING, LPGA Championship, du Maurier Classic, Star Bank LPGA Classic
* 1997 (1) Standard Register PING
* 1998 (1) PageNet Championship
* 2000 (2) Los Angeles Women’s Championship, Philips Invitational Honoring Harvey Penick.
* 2001 (1) Wegmans LPGA

LPGA Majors are shown in bold.

Ladies European Tour (40)

:"This list is incomplete. Her LET profile states she has 39 wins but only lists wins from 1991 on."
*1985 (1) Belgian Open
*1986 (4) British Women's Open, Greater Manchester Tournament, two other wins
*1987 (1) BMW Italian Ladies' Open
*1988 (2) BMW Italian Ladies' Open, one other win
*1990 (1) AGF Biarritz Open
*1991 (1) Valextra Classic
*1992 (3) The European Ladies Open, The Ladies' English Open, BMW Italian Ladies' Open
*1993 (1) Waterford Dairies English Open
*1994 (2) Irish Open, Skoda Scottish
*1995 (4) Evian Masters, Guardian Irish Open, Woodpecker Women's Welsh Open, Wilkinson Sword English Open
*1996 (3) Evian Masters, Wilkinson Sword English Open, Italian Open di Sicilia
*1997 (2) Ford-Stimorol Danish Open, Hennessy Cup
*1998 (1) Chrysler Open
*1999 (4) Chrysler Open, McDonald's WPGA Championship, Compaq Open, Praia d'El Rey European Cup (team event)
*2000 (1) TSN Ladies World Cup Golf Ind
*2001 (1) WPGA International Matchplay
*2002 (1) P4 Norwegian Masters
*2003 (1) ANZ Ladies Masters
*2004 (1) AAMI Women's Australian Open
*2006 (2) SAS Norwegian Masters, Volvo Cross Country Challenge
*2007 (1) UNIQA Ladies Golf Open

Other (10)

:"This list is incomplete."
*1988 (1) Itoki Classic (JLPGA)
*1993 (1) Australian Ladies Masters
*1994 (1) Australian Ladies Masters
*1999 (1) John Daly)
*2001 (1) Itoen Ladies Open (JLPGA) [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/1650128.stm Davies wins in Japan] ]
*2008 (1) LG/Bing Lee New South Wales Open (ALPG)

Results in LPGA majors

^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
DNP = did not play.
CUT = missed the half=way cut.
"T" tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.

Team appearances

Amateur
*Curtis Cup (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1984 Professional
*Solheim Cup (representing Europe): 1990, 1992 (winners), 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 (winners), 2002, 2003 (winners), 2005, 2007
*Women's World Cup of Golf (representing England): 2005, 2006, 2007
*Lexus Cup (representing International team): 2005 (winners)

LPGA Tour career summary

olheim Cup Record

ee also

*Golfers with most LPGA Tour wins
*Golfers with most LPGA major championship wins

Notes and References

External links

* [http://www.ladieseuropeantour.info/profiles/010035.htm Profile on the Ladies European Tour's official site]
* [http://www.lpga.com/player_results.aspx?id=18 Profile on the LPGA's official site]
* [http://golf.about.com/od/golferswomen/p/laura_davies.htm about.com profile]

Persondata
NAME=Davies, Laura
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Professional Golfer
DATE OF BIRTH= October 5, 1963
PLACE OF BIRTH= Surrey, England