|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Davies rediscovers her swagger
Posted: Monday May 08, 2000 05:01 PM
AUSTIN, Texas -- The LPGA's original gunslinger, Laura Davies, captured the Philips Invitational last weekend minus her six-shooter. Davies won her second tournament of the 2000 season without using her driver -- "The driver was there; it was just along for the ride" -- but she did fire off a few verbal shots.
Like any good cowgirl, Davies has found a home on the range. The 36-year-old normally doesn't spend much time practicing, because in the course of playing some 35 events a year, she hits so many shots that she would be worn out of she swung any more. But the key to her victory last week might have been her extra sessions. "I am hitting the ball so well that I am actually enjoying going and hitting [extra] balls," said Davies. "I didn't practice once last year after a round." But don't expect to see her on the course Tuesday or Wednesday any time soon. "You might as well have your fingernails pulled out slowly," Davies said. "These girls take six hours to play a practice round and so I think practice rounds are useless." With this new practice regimen, Davies hopes she will be able to lasso Karrie Webb and capture the Player of the Year trophy. "This is another step in the right direction," Davies said. "I'm going to try to chase her all the way, just like Juli [Inkster] is and Annika [Sorenstam] is. She's fantastic." Davies admitted she was a little disappointed that Webb was in Japan last week, missing out on a potential showdown. "She wouldn't have been this many under par," Davies said about Webb's nine-stroke win. On top of her frequent trips to the range and her cowboy hat, by tournament's end Davies even started sounding like a cowgirl. She used the phrase It ran like a pig during her winner's press conference when talking about the showing of China Visit in the Kentucky Derby. Davies had wagered $100 on the English thoroughbred at 22-1 only to see it fade to sixth place. But don't worry. Davies recouped her lost and then some by collecting the $127,500 first-place check. What will she do with all the money? "I'm going to buy some hats," said Davies, who is a blue-ribbon shopper. "I think I'm going to get myself a little collection going." Tom Hanson, a regular contributor to Sports Illustrated's Golf Plus section, caddies for Sara Sanders on the LPGA Tour. Click here to send him a question or comment. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
