Ladies European Tour rookie Rosie Davies took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her career path, life as a pro and her future ambitions.
Ladies European Tour rookie Rosie Davies took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her career path, life as a pro and her future ambitions.
Your path onto the Tour is a little different from many of your competitors in that you didn’t play in a lot of junior golf. Tell us a little bit about that.
I was very late to the game. I had grown up playing football and during my school years I played for Arsenal and Fulham Ladies. Golf was more of a recreational sport, which I would play with my dad and brother in my free time. However I had always loved the game and when I was 18 I decided that I would take a gap year and move to America and spend a year at the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in South Carolina. This was when I played my first amateur tournament. It was a steep learning curve! I had a year of tuition there but more importantly experienced lots of tournament golf. I was then lucky enough to be given a golf scholarship to Indiana University and played 3 years for them which was an amazing experience. I moved back home to England after university and that’s when I turned professional.
How have you found your first season on tour? Is it what you expected it to be?
It’s been so much fun! I have really enjoyed travelling around the globe and playing in tournaments. I always tell people that I have the best job in the world. Of course, it’s been a lot of hard work. There is a lot of pressure as a rookie but I’ve embraced that and only focused on the things that I can control, like playing my own game. It has also been great to get to know the other women on tour, there are so many great players on the Ladies European Tour and it’s been fun competing with them each week.
You had your top finish in Spain. How do you rate that performance and does that give your game a confidence boost going forward?
I played really well in Spain and was actually a little disappointed with my final finish of T14. I had been leading the tournament during the second round which was exciting and a new experience on the LET. Prior to the tournament I had been working hard with my coach, Peter Mitchell and had also been working a lot on my mental game, which came through in that event. The golf course played to my strengths as it was long and the greens were fast and slopey, so I really enjoyed the challenge. It has given me a huge confidence boost as I have proved to myself that I am capable of not just playing well but challenging to win tournaments. I still have a lot to learn but Spain was a big step forward.
What do you plan to play in for the remainder of the season?
I am travelling to Florida next week to play in Stage 2 of LPGA Qualifying School and then will finish out the season on the LET. I am going to play the Middle East swing of the tour in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai which I am really looking forward to.
What do you do in your down time when you’re not golfing?
I opened a CrossFit gym in Wandsworth, London two years ago so will spend most of my down time there, either working out, coaching classes or working on the business. I am passionate about people improving their lives through fitness and health. CrossFit is a great way to achieve that and the gym has a great community of people that have now become some of my closest friends.
I also like to spend time with my family and friends. I travel a lot and am not home very often, so it’s nice to catch up with people when I get the chance. I am also a massive Arsenal fan and will go to the matches with my Dad whenever I get the chance.
What’s your top tip for the next generation of players who are aspiring to life on tour? What should they expect from their rookie year?
Surround yourself with a team of people that support what you’re doing. It is a tough road with lots of challenges and obstacles so you need people around you that can pick you up when you’re down and celebrate the highs with you when they come. And if you really want it, work hard for it. It won’t come easy but the rewards will be worth it. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process.
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