Extremely grateful Davis laments loss of Australian legend Newton
US PGA Tour star Cameron Davis may be Jack Newton’s greatest junior gold success story.
Ask Davis and he acknowledges Newton was the reason he found his way into tournament golf and, ultimately, the cashed-up PGA Tour.
Having narrowly survived the cut at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina, he spoke of his devastation at losing a man who helped him achieve his dream.
“Jack was the whole reason I was able to get into tournament golf, through his foundation giving opportunities to kids all through NSW to play competitive golf, play with their friends and enjoy that environment,” he said.
“I think that was an awesome opportunity he gave all of us.
“I met him a handful of times and I appreciate everything he did for junior golf.
“Obviously devastating that he passed away.”
Australian golf was robbed of one of its most influential figures on Thursday when Newton died.
His junior organisation aside, Newton was a player, commentator and mentor.
Davis parlayed his involvement in Newton’s junior golf into a successful amateur career. He won the Australian Amateur in 2015 and was runner-up in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
As a professional, he won the Australian Open in 2017 and secured his maiden win on the US PGA Tour in July last year, defeating Troy Merritt and Joaquin Niemann in a playoff at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.