Rookie raring to fire on Day
FEARLESS youngster Cameron Davis is confident he can contend for the Australian Open title after upstaging Jason Day and Jordan Spieth with a dazzling opening eightunder-par 63.
The 22-year-old from Sydney enjoys a two-stroke lead over unheralded Queenslander Taylor MacDonald, with Day a shot back in a tie for third with former Australian Masters champion Nick Cullen and Alex Edge.
World No.2 Spieth struggled in the usual windy afternoon conditions at The Australian to be seven strokes adrift of the lead following a rollercoaster one-under 70 featuring six birdies and five bogeys.
The defending champion blamed rust and early nerves from a near two-month layoff for his bogey-bogey start, but expected to make up ground on the frontrunners when he gets the morning conditions today.
Davis is part of a hungry new guard of Australian rook- ies attempting to secure a foothold in the pro-tour ranks following stellar amateur careers. Currently the world No.1494, he took a step in that direction by capitalising on near-perfect early conditions.
He was six under after chipping in on the seventh hole and finished with nine birdies to be just two shots shy of Rod Pampling’s course record 61.
Also enjoying the early conditions, Day made eight birdies but paid for a double bogey when he snapped his drive into trees on the “brutal” eighth.
“It felt like eight under,” the returning superstar said after his first Open round in four years. “I think if I can shoot 5, 5, 5, 5 [under] — get it to 20under, then I’ll have a good chance of winning.”
Day admitted he’d never heard of Davis, who cashed in on a course where he won the 2015 Australian amateur title.
“It’s very familiar out here,” Davis said.
So how will the rookie pro handle it if he ends up playing alongside Day or Spieth before their galleries at the weekend?
“I know that they’re there. It’s nice that they’re there because it makes it feel like a really big tournament,” he said.
“I’m not trying to beat them. I’m trying to play my best golf. If I can keep on doing what I’m doing, I’ll be right up there come Sunday.”
Davis made his name internationally when he was the lowest individual scorer as he spearheaded Australia’s stunning 19-shot win in the world amateur teams championship in Mexico last year.
Turning pro not long after, he played the McKenzie Tour in Canada this year but lost his card and faces a tough week at next month’s web.com Tour final qualifying as he attempts to secure a future in the US.
Matt Jones, the 2015 champion, played alongside Spieth and carded an even-par 71.