Rodger Davis


Rodger Miles Davis is an Australian professional golfer.
Davis was born in Sydney. He turned professional in 1974 and spent his regular career playing mainly on the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour. He won the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit in 1990 and 1991. He made the top ten of the European Tour Order of Merit four times in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His seven European Tour wins included two of Europe's most prestigious tournaments; the British PGA Championship, which he won in 1986 at Wentworth Club, and the season ending Volvo Masters, which he claimed in 1991. His best finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for fifth at the 1986 NEC World Series of Golf.
Davis was ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for 29 weeks between 1987 and 1992. In the 1987 Open Championship, Davis shot a first round of 64 at Muirfield to lead the tournament by three strokes after the opening round. He finished the championship in a tie for 2nd place with American Paul Azinger, a stroke behind the champion Nick Faldo. The 1987 Open Championship is Davis's best finish in a major championship.
Davis represented Australia in team competitions several times, and was a member of his country's winning three-man team at the 1986 Alfred Dunhill Cup.
As a senior, he played mainly on the U.S.-based Champions Tour, where he won once, the 2003 Toshiba Senior Classic. He played on the European Seniors Tour in 2011 and 2012.

Amateur wins (1)

this list may be incomplete

European Tour wins (7)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
111 Jul 1981State Express Classic−5 2 strokes Greg Norman
226 May 1986Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship−7 Playoff Des Smyth
312 Jun 1988Wang Four Stars National Pro-Celebrity−13 1 stroke José María Cañizares, Eamonn Darcy
429 Apr 1990Peugeot Spanish Open−11 1 stroke Nick Faldo, Peter Fowler,
Bernhard Langer
517 Jun 1990Wang Four Stars−17 Playoff Michael Clayton, Bill Malley,
Mark McNulty
627 Oct 1991Volvo Masters−4 1 stroke Nick Faldo
72 May 1993Air France Cannes Open−13 Playoff Mark McNulty

European Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11986Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship Des SmythWon with bogey on third extra hole
21986German Open Bernhard LangerLost to birdie on fifth extra hole
31990Wang Four Stars Michael Clayton, Bill Malley,
Mark McNulty
Won with birdie on seventh extra hole
Malley and McNulty eliminated by par on first hole
41991Mercedes German Masters Bernhard LangerLost to par on first extra hole
51993Air France Cannes Open Mark McNultyWon with par on first extra hole

PGA Tour of Australasia wins (14)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
114 Aug 1977Nedlands Masters−11 2 strokes Allen Cooper
29 Oct 1977McCallum's South Coast Open−13 4 strokes Terry Gale
318 Feb 1979Victorian Open+3 Playoff Geoff Parslow, Gary Player
410 Nov 1985Victorian PGA Championship−18 7 strokes Ossie Moore
516 Nov 1986National Panasonic Australian Open−10 1 stroke Ian Baker-Finch, Graham Marsh,
Bob Shearer
630 Nov 1986Air New Zealand Shell Open−13 3 strokes Bob Shearer, Curtis Strange
77 Dec 1986Nissan-Mobil New Zealand Open−18 8 strokes Bob Shearer
84 Dec 1988Bicentennial Classic−17 Playoff Fred Couples
919 Nov 1989Ford New South Wales Open−15 9 strokes Bradley Hughes
1014 Jan 1990Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup−17 Playoff Curtis Strange
1120 Jan 1991SxL Sanctuary Cove Classic−10 1 stroke Frank Nobilo
1210 Mar 1991AMP New Zealand Open −11 2 strokes Frank Nobilo
1312 Jan 1992SxL Sanctuary Cove Classic −5 2 strokes Grant Waite
1413 Dec 1992Coolum Classic−17 7 strokes Michael Clayton

PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11979Victorian Open Geoff Parslow, Gary PlayerWon with birdie on second extra hole
21980Australian Masters Gene LittlerLost to bogey on first extra hole
31988Bicentennial Classic Fred CouplesWon with par on second extra hole
41990Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup Curtis StrangeWon with eagle on second extra hole

Other Australasian wins (5)

Other senior wins (2)

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary