Imagine coming within inches of making history, only to have fate whisper, 'Not today.' That's exactly what happened to Australian golfer Cam Davis, who nearly achieved something the PGA Tour hasn't seen in a quarter-century. But here's where it gets controversial: Was it a missed opportunity, or a testament to the razor-thin margins in professional golf? Let's dive in.
Cam Davis, the Aussie star, found himself on the brink of golfing immortality at the WM Phoenix Open. After a solid start with a -2 score across the first two rounds, Davis secured his spot for the weekend. Yet, it was his near-miss on the 17th hole that stole the spotlight. This short par-four hole became the stage for a heart-stopping moment. Davis boldly attacked the green with his driver, landing the ball just in front of the hole, only to watch it roll agonizingly past. He then calmly sank a four-foot putt for an eagle, but the real prize—a hole-in-one on a par-four—slipped through his fingers.
And this is the part most people miss: Had that tee shot dropped, Davis would have joined an elite club, becoming only the second golfer in PGA Tour history to achieve this feat. The first? American Andrew Magee, who accomplished it on the very same hole back in 2001. It's a reminder of how rare and extraordinary such moments are in golf.
As Davis moves into Rounds 3 and 4, he faces an uphill battle. Sitting at -2, he trails leader Ryo Hisatsune by nine shots, needing nothing short of a miracle to claim the title. Meanwhile, fellow Aussie Min Woo Lee is in a stronger position, carding an impressive -6 in the second round to sit just five shots off the lead. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also rebounded from a rare over-par start, entering the weekend at -4.
Here’s a look at the leaderboard after Round 2:
Leaderboard – Round 2
- Ryo Hisatsune -11
- Hideki Matsuyama -10
- Chris Gotterup -8
- Pierceson Coody -8
- Akshay Bhatia -7
- Si Woo Kim -7
- John Parry -7
- Sahith Theegala -7
- Matt Fitzpatrick -7
- MW Lee (AUS) -6
- Scottie Scheffler -4
- Cam Davis (AUS) -2
Missed Cut:
K. Vilips (AUS) +1
Now, let’s spark some debate: Should golfers like Davis take such bold risks, or is it better to play it safe? And what does this near-miss tell us about the balance between skill and luck in golf? Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear your take!
