[Photo: David Cannon]
The way Karis Davidson looked at it, her long trip from home in Australia to Southern California was going to be worth it, one way or another.
Based on a third-place finish in final qualifying in Seattle, the 27-year-old was the first alternate to get into the US Women’s Open this week at Riviera Country Club. That’s a hopeful but precarious position when thinking about flying 14 hours for the mere opportunity to compete. Davidson, who hadn’t played an LPGA Tour event since early May, decided to go for it.
“I just came over from Australia with the mindset of you know what, even if I don’t get in I’ll stay with the other Aussie girls and watch a bit of golf at Riv and hopefully get a practice round [at] the place,” Davidson said.
Fate was on her side, however, when, last Sunday, Frenchwoman Celine Boutier charged from four shots down in the final round to win the ShopRite Classic. Because Boutier had already qualified for Riviera, the first alternate was up, and Davidson got the call.
She admitted that she wasn’t exactly hanging on the LPGA result.
“My caddie knew and some friends back home researched it, so they knew,” Davison said. “But I was just waiting for the official call.”
The opportunity might be more valuable than Davidson ever imagined. Playing in her first US Women’s Open, she shot three-under on her front nine and nearly finished at the number until suffering a bogey by three-putting the par-5 17th. Davidson’s two-under 69 in the morning wave put her into a tie for sixth place.
“I’m really chuffed,” she said. “Played solid, holed some good putts. Also missed a couple silly ones. My concentration was not the best. On the back nine, I would say I lost a bit of energy.”
Davidson, who was born in Scotland but plays under the Australian flag, is in her sixth season on the LPGA Tour and has five career top-10 finishes. She is part of a tight-knit group of Australians who travel together on the circuit, and four of them are staying in a house this week.
One of the roommates is very familiar with success in Los Angeles. Hannah Green, who has won four worldwide tournaments this year, owns three victories here – two wins at Wilshire Country Club and one at El Caballero.
Davidson recalls that as a young girl, she watched some of the most iconic moments in the US Women’s Open, including Paula Creamer’s victory at Oakmont and Michelle Wie West’s win at Pinehurst.
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Of course, one of her biggest golfing heroes is countrywoman Karrie Webb, who won back-to-back US Opens in 2000 and 2001 when Davidson was just a toddler.
As it happens, she and the other Aussie players are going to have dinner with Webb on Saturday, and Davidson will get to do that as a true US Open competitor.
“She’s obviously influenced my career so much moving to Australia at young age,” Davidson said. “She just gives everyone such an opportunity to improve and go where you want to go with your golf.”
So, yes, taking that flight on a hope and prayer is looking better and better.
