Dame Laura Jane Davies, (born 5 October 1963) is an English professional golfer. She has achieved the status of her nation's most accomplished female golfer of modern times, being the second non-American to finish at the top of the LPGA money list as well as winning the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit a record seven times: in 1985, 1986, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2006. As of 2018, Davies has 86 professional wins worldwide, with 20 on the LPGA Tour, including four majors. From 1985 to 2010, she won at least one individual title somewhere in the world every season, except for 2005, and was the first golfer, male or female, to win tournaments on five continents in one year. She is a member of U.S.-based LPGA Tour and a life member of the Ladies European Tour. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015.

Amateur career

A native of Coventry, Davies began as an amateur international player for Great Britain, compiling a notable record. She was the 1983 English Intermediate Champion, the 1984 Welsh Ladies 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. She turned professional in 1985.

Professional career

Ladies European Tour 1985–1986

Davies started her professional career on the WPGET (now Ladies European 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. She repeated the Order of Merit win in 1986 having won four titles, one of which was the Women's British Open (prior to it becoming a major).

Playing around the world 1987–2023

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. Davies became the third non-U.S. citizen and the second European player, after Catherine Lacoste in 1967, to win the U.S. Women's Open. For six days, Davies was holder of both the U.S and British Open titles. The 1987 Women's British Open took place the week after the U.S. Women's Open and in her defence Davies finished tied second, one shot behind winner Alison Nicholas. From 1988, Davies played on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours. In 1988, Davies won twice as a rookie on the LPGA Tour, three times on the Ladies European Tour and once in Japan, becoming the first woman ever to win on all three major Tours in the same year. Her four consecutive victories at the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International between 1994 and 1997 made Davies the first LPGA player to win the same tournament in four consecutive years. 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. and became the first European player to be ranked unofficial number one in the world on the Ping Leaderboard. In 1996, she was again ranked number one on the Ping leaderboard. In 2004 Davies was the first woman to compete in the men's European Tour, entering the ANZ Championship in Sydney, Australia, playing from the same tees as the men. She failed to make the cut, finishing second to last. She beat the LPGA Tour record for most eagles in a season, scoring 19 during the 2004 season.

Solheim Cup and other team appearances

In 1990, she was a member of the inaugural European Solheim Cup Team. She returned as part of every European team through 2011. Davies is the only player to participate in the first 12 Solheim Cup matches on either the United States or European side. Davies is the all-time leader in points won in the Solheim Cup, breaking the record of Annika Sörenstam by winning a Saturday fourballs match partnered by Melissa Reid on 24 September 2011. Davies went on the increase her record point total to 25 by halving her singles match with Juli Inkster on 25 September 2011, as the Europeans captured the Solheim Cup for the fourth time. She was appointed as non-playing assistant captain for the European teams at the 2019, 2021 and 2023 Solheim Cup tournaments. Davies was part of the LPGA team at the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge three times between 1994 and 1996. Davies also was part of a mixed team event of PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players at the JCPenney Classic four times between 1996 and 1999. Davies won the event in 1999 alongside John Daly. She represented England at the Women's World Cup of Golf in 2000 (with Trish Johnson when winning individually), 2005 (with Karen Stupples), 2006 (with Kirsty Taylor) and 2007 (with Trish Johnson). She was a Captain's pick for the International Team at the 2006 Lexus Cup.

Senior career

At 49 years of age in 2012, Davies won a senior tour event for the first time, the ISPS Handa Legends Tour Open Championship on the Legends Tour, where there was a minimum age limit of 45. Davies was the first woman to compete among the men in a European Senior Tour event. She played in the 2018 Shipco Masters in Denmark, from the same tees as her male opponents. In 2018, aged 55, Davies finished runner up at Bank of Hope Founders Cup on the LPGA Tour, including shooting a Saturday round of 63. On 15 July 2018, Davies claimed the inaugural U.S. Senior Women's Open at Chicago Golf Club by shooting 16-under-par for a 10-shot victory over fellow Hall of Famer Juli Inkster. Then on 17 October, she made the "senior slam" by following that up by capturing her second senior major, the Senior LPGA Championship at French Lick Resort in Indiana with a score of 8-under-par, a four shot margin over Helen Alfredsson and Silvia Cavalleri.

Awards and honours

In 1993 Davies was elected Honorary Lifetime Member of the Ladies European Tour, at the time named the WPGA Tour, for services to the tour. She was named the Sports Journalists' Association Sportswoman of the Year 1995 and 1996. Davies won the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Award in 1996. She was recognized during the LPGA's 50th anniversary in 2000 as one of the top 50 players in the history of the LPGA. Davies was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1988 Birthday Honours, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours, all for services to women's golf. In January 2013, the Golf Writers Association of America announced that Davies would be the year's recipient of the ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award, which recognises a golfer for "cooperation, quotability and accommodation with the media." The other finalists were Luke Donald and Greg Norman. The award was presented at the annual GWAA dinner at Augusta, Georgia, on 10 April. In February 2015, Davies was announced as one of seven women, invited as the first female honorary members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The other six women were HRH Princess Anne, Renee Powell, Belle Robertson, Lally Segard, Louise Suggs and Annika Sörenstam. They joined the existing 15 male honorary members, whom included President George H. W. Bush, Peter Thomson CBE, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015. On 18 April 2016, Davies was appointed the first honorary president of the Parliamentary Golf Group, an all-party organisation of MPs working to improve the state of golf in the United Kingdom. On 12 July 2016, Davies was presented with the "Spirit of Golf" Award from the Golf Foundation in a ceremony at Royal Troon. Davies is the first recipient of the prestigious honour.

Off-course activities

Davies published an autobiography in 1996. Davies enjoys all sports and is an avid football fan and a Liverpool F.C. supporter. She organises the annual football match at the Evian Masters tournament in France 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. In 2001, Davies joined the BBC Sport commentary team member at The Open Championship. 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. Davies has always had an interest in gambling, having formerly been a bookmaker's assistant, and this interest led to her becoming a racehorse owner. In 2006 Davies completed a 56-mile charity walk along the Great Wall of China to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital. In 2012, she was named by the Golf Club Managers' Association's Golf Club Management magazine as the 32nd most powerful person in British golf due to her ability to inspire girls and women to play the game.

Football career

In 1997, 33-year-old Davies signed a four-year contract worth $1 as part of a publicity stunt for newly established American soccer team Myrtle Beach Seadawgs in the USISL D-3 Pro League. She played in one league game for the club, a six-minute cameo in a 4–1 loss against New Jersey Imperials on 18 April 1997. The future United States national soccer team international Tim Howard made his away debut in the game. Howard wrote in his book that the Seadawgs had offered a bonus of $500 to any player who could assist Davies score a goal.

Professional wins (86)

LPGA Tour wins (20)

LPGA Tour playoff record (2–8) LPGA majors are shown in bold.

Ladies European Tour wins (45)

Ladies European Tour playoff record (3–6)

LPGA of Japan Tour wins (7)

ALPG Tour wins (8)

Ladies Asian Golf Tour wins (2)

Other wins (4)

Note

Legends Tour wins (4)

Major championships

Wins (4)

1 In an 18-hole playoff: Davies 71, Okamoto 73, Carner 74.

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order. ^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001. ^^ The Evian Championship was added as a major in 2013. {{legend|lime|Win}} {{legend|yellow|Top 10}} {{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}} CUT = missed the half-way cut. WD = withdrew NT = no tournament "T" = tied

Summary

Senior major championships

Wins (2)

LPGA Tour career summary

• Includes match play and other events without a cut. 1 Davies played in 1986 and 1987 as non-member of the LPGA Tour, why her money won was considered unofficial. 2 Davies's earnings of $37,549 at the 2010 Honda PTT LPGA Thailand were considered unofficial under LPGA rules and are not included in this total.

Ladies European Tour career summary

1 Davies's 2000 LET appearances, cuts made, wins, top tens, best finish and earnings include her win at the individual event at the 2000 TSN Ladies World Cup Golf with a first prize of £25,000, which was considered unofficial in the Order of Merit but counted among her LET wins. 2 2000–2004 and 2018–2022 LET Order of Merit rankings were decided by a points system. 3 Five tournaments included in 2021 LET earnings, Order of Merit and scoring average, not including 2021 Aramco Team Series - Jeddah. 4 Includes match play and other events without a cut.

Team appearances

Amateur Professional

Solheim Cup record