Wales’ latest European Tour winner Rhys Davies will spearhead an in-form Welsh challenge hoping to produce the first home winner of The Celtic
Manor Wales Open from June 3-6.
Davies captured his maiden European Tour triumph at the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco in March and has risen to become Wales’ Number One ranked golfer during his rookie season.
The 24-year-old from Bridgend has secured three other top-ten finishes since graduating from the European Challenge Tour, including a tie for second at the Volvo China Open last month.
He was part of a three-pronged Welsh challenge for that title as Stephen Dodd also shared the runners-up spot, while Jamie Donaldson finished in a share of fourth place. Both Dodd and Donaldson have enjoyed further top-ten finishes this season to break into the top 40 on The Race to Dubai.
Davies is currently tenth in The Race to Dubai and will be looking to maintain his impressive run of form on home soil next month. The Royal Porthcawl golfer actually finished as the leading Welshman in a share of 17th place when playing on a sponsor’s invite at last year’s Celtic Manor Wales Open.
He said: “I’m looking forward to coming back to play in The Celtic Manor Wales Open. I’ve got some great memories of the way I played there last year after making a slow start on the first day.
“It’s a very exciting year for Welsh golf with The Ryder Cup taking place on the same Twenty Ten Course later in the year. It’s always great to play in your home event and I know I can count on a lot of support from family and friends during the week.”
That same support cheered Davies on to victory at the SWALEC Wales Challenge last July and he went on to claim another success at the Fred Olsen Challenge de España to finish the season in fourth place on the Challenge Tour rankings.
A highly successful college golfer at East Tennessee State University and a former Walker Cup team-mate of Rory McIlroy, Davies has not looked back since embarking on his first full campaign on The European Tour this year.
As well as Dodd and Donaldson, he will be joined by two-time European Tour winner Bradley Dredge and former Ryder Cup star Phil Price in a strong Welsh assault on the title at Celtic Manor.
No Welshman has claimed the elegant silver dragon trophy but Dredge came the closest in 2007 when his one-shot lead coming down the last was overturned by a brilliant birdie from South Africa’s Richard Sterne, while the home favourite caught a bunker en route to a costly bogey five.
The home hopes will face stiff competition in their bid to land this year’s title as three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington and his fellow Ryder Cup star Luke Donald have both already announced they will tee up in this year’s Celtic Manor Wales Open.
The tournament is staged for the 11th time this summer and former winners include Ryder Cup players Miguel Angel Jiménez, Robert Karlsson, Paul Lawrie, Paul McGinley and Ian Poulter.
Any European following in their footsteps this summer will not only have boosted their qualifying prospects to the tune of the £300,000 winner’s cheque, they will also have given European Captain Colin Montgomerie the broadest possible hint at their ability to play The Ryder Cup venue.
As well as top class sporting action at one of The European Tour’s leading events, The Celtic Manor Wales Open also offers spectators the chance to enjoy family attractions in the tented village and provides a great value, full day out. Children Under-16 enjoy free entry if accompanied by an adult.
For more information and tickets please visit wales-open.com or contact Special Events on 01633 410318.
