Anna Davis Auburn Golf Commit---Update

[augolf1716 21,102]

I just hope she makes it to Auburn but with her twin brother committed to Auburn it may help us. She would be the biggest golf commitment male or female Auburn has ever received imo. First video she talks a little about her commitment to AU

https://www.golfchannel.com/video/anna-davis-excited-defend-augusta-national-womens-amateur

 

 

 

 

 

 

Know this first about teenager Anna Davis when she talks about what seemed like an out-of-nowhere victory in last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Before her win, the San Diego native had little knowledge of Masters history or the revered challenges and subtleties of Augusta National Golf Club. Her dad has said her only exposure to the Masters was watching the final hole of Tiger Woods’ triumph in 2019.

That naivety probably played a role in the 16-year-old high school sophomore shooting a three-under-par 69 in the final round to beat a field laden with college stars. She was not overtaken with awe making her way through Amen Corner or getting all caught up in memories of the greats chugging their way up the 18th hole.

Funny enough, it seems like Augusta National remains in Davis’ mind as simply a very nice place to play golf. Nothing more, nothing less.

MORE: How Anna Davis parlayed her ANWA win into one incredible summer

On a conference call with reporters on Tuesday to talk about the defense of her ANWA title in the 54-hole tournament that will be played March 29-30 at Champions Retreat and April 1 at ANGC, Davis said she hasn’t returned to Augusta National since her winning round a year ago, though she would have certainly had opportunities to do something most golfers would drool over.

“I hadn’t really had the time,” she said. “It’s kind of hard. I do live in California. That’s a little difficult to make a trip to Georgia. It didn’t fit into the schedule. This is the week I would have gone, and I didn’t make time for it.”

Don’t feel sorry for her. Davis, 17, was speaking on the video call from one of the plush cabins on the grounds at Champions Retreat, where she is practicing at what is arguably the ANWA’s more important venue, considering the first two rounds are played there. Those are the perks of being the champion, and she is the first of three ANWA winners to come back to defend.

 

At 16, Anna Davis was the youngest winner of the ANWA in its third year of being played.

David Cannon

Davis is certainly not one to cling to conventions, or even risk ruffling a few feathers of those who wear the green jackets. In the most comical bit of her media chat, she was asked if she had a favorite treat at Augusta, since there are so many to choose from. Davis struggled to come up with an answer and then said, “I know the pimento cheese thing is like a really big thing, but I just can’t get over how gross it is.”

You can have your trophy taken away for such blasphemy.

On another light subject, there is the bucket hat Davis wore for the final round last year. Her look became something of a sensation, stirring debates about the style’s merits while making Davis instantly recognizable during the LPGA events she played last summer. “The fuss over the bucket hat was pretty funny for a little while,” Davis said.

Emphasis on little, because she hasn’t sought to be known as “the girl in the bucket hat” and doesn't embrace it as her signature. Ask her parents. Davis has an independent streak and said on Tuesday that it will be a game-time decision on going with the bucket during the ANWA.

“It’s definitely a possibility,” Davis said coyly. “It kind of depends on my mood and also depends on the weather.”

More seriously, Davis will go into ANWA coming off a significant wire-to-wire victory in last week’s prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. Currently ranked ninth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, she also won the Junior Orange Bowl International in January and has two other top-10 finishes since playing last year in seven LPGA events after her ANWA win, and making the cut in four of them.

After getting a taste of the LPGA life, Davis had a decision to make about her future: turn pro or go to college. And she admits that she felt impatient about making the call. Ultimately, she chose school and Auburn, where her twin brother, Billy, a decorated junior golfer in his own right, will also play on scholarship for the men’s team.

“At the end of the day I kind of decided I needed more experience in different situations, in different pressure situations,” Davis said. “… And to have a life for a few years in college. At the end of the day, that’s just kind of my main deciding point.”

She raved about her recruiting trip to Auburn, the small-town feel and the coaching staff. “After my visit, I just didn’t want to leave,” she said with a laugh.

Of course, until then she has another year of high school after this one, and now seemingly more many opportunities to play Augusta National. And even with her quirky nonchalance, she does appreciate the place.

 

“Obviously, you hear things about Augusta and people say it’s perfect in every way,” Davis said. “And when I went there, it exceeded every expectation I had. It’s beautiful, and there’s not a single blade of grass out of place there.”

[Golden Eagle 362]

Anna could do for AU Women's Golf what Suni did for AU gymnastics.  Really hope she comes to Auburn.  With her talent, the decision may not be an easy one...but experiencing college life (bonding with a school/place, making new friends, supporting other sports, etc), and hopefully earning a degree, is life-changing.  Plenty of time to spend on the pro tour after college.

[augolf1716 21,102]

41 minutes ago, Golden Eagle said:

Anna could do for AU Women's Golf what Suni did for AU gymnastics.  Really hope she comes to Auburn.  With her talent, the decision may not be an easy one...but experiencing college life (bonding with a school/place, making new friends, supporting other sports, etc), and hopefully earning a degree, is life-changing.  Plenty of time to spend on the pro tour after college.

Well said

[AUBwins 10,074]

Thankfully, golf is a sport you can play the majority of your adult life unlike gymnastics with a window. 

On 3/23/2023 at 12:57 PM, Golden Eagle said:

Anna could do for AU Women's Golf what Suni did for AU gymnastics.  Really hope she comes to Auburn.  With her talent, the decision may not be an easy one...but experiencing college life (bonding with a school/place, making new friends, supporting other sports, etc), and hopefully earning a degree, is life-changing.  Plenty of time to spend on the pro tour after college.

 

[augolf1716 21,102]

Anna missed the cut today at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur took a 4 stroke penality on the first hole yesterday and missed the cut by 2 strokes. Damn shame but she really didn't play that well both days. 

On a good note Auburns other female golfer Megan Stofil did make the cut at 2 over. Play will start at Augusta tomorrow

[Grumps 3,704]

1 hour ago, augolf1716 said:

Anna missed the cut today at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur took a 4 stroke penality on the first hole yesterday and missed the cut by 2 strokes. Damn shame but she really didn't play that well both days. 

On a good note Auburns other female golfer Megan Stofil did make the cut at 2 over. Play will start at Augusta tomorrow

How do you get a 4-stroke penalty???

[augolf1716 21,102]

1 hour ago, Grumps said:

How do you get a 4-stroke penalty???

This explains it

In the first round of the ANWA at Champions Retreat, Davis received a pair of two-stroke penalties after she lifted, cleaned and replaced her ball while it was in the rough after hitting her drive on the first hole and after hitting her second-shot approach to the green. According to the Model Local Rule E-3 distributed by the ANWA competition committee, the field of 72 players was only allowed to play preferred lies from the areas cut to the fairway height or less.

Davis was informed of the potential penalties on the fourth tee, but it wasn’t until after her round when she entered the scoring area that she was officially assessed the four strokes, signing for a four-over-par 76. She was tied for 43rd place instead of being tied for 13th with a 72. The top-ranked amateur in the world, Rose Zhang, set the pace by shooting six-under-par 66—the lowest score on either course in the tournament’s four-year history. The top 30 and ties after Thursday’s second round at Champions will advance to the ANWA’s final round on Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club.

Davis, who spoke to the media with composure, laughing a few times, said she knew the field was playing preferred lies, but was unaware of the Model Local Rule. She said that before starting the round she asked her group scorer if the preferred lies would be for all of the course. She said he told her yes. “I guess he didn’t know,” Davis said.

Of course, players are deemed ultimately responsible for knowing the specific rules for each tournament. There are junior events, for example, in which they do play preferred lies throughout the course, including rough. On this occasion, Davis simply missed the memo.

“It’s all right. It happens,” she said. “It’s a learning experience.”

Davis started her round on the first hole of Champions Retreat by missing the fairway to the right. She picked the ball up, had her caddie clean it, and then replaced it. Her approach shot then went into the rough, and she again lifted it and replaced it. She would eventually bogey the hole.

Technically speaking, Davis was not violating the Model Local Rule E-3 that the ANWA’s competition committee put in place for the tournament and notified players about on Tuesday in a memo. Due to recent rains, the committee said that preferred lies would be allowed for areas cut to fairway height or less. “When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once using a preferred lie by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it” from a relief point that is within one club length of the original spot and no nearer the hole.

 

In Davis’ case, she was penalized for two things: moving her ball by picking it up, and then not replacing it properly. A statement on the ruling from James Hyler Jr., chairman of the ANWA competition committees, said, “During play of her first hole, Anna Davis lifted her ball and failed to replace it on its original spot on two separate occurrences. Under Rule 9.4, Ms. Davis has been penalized two strokes for each occurrence of playing from a wrong place. Her score on hole 1 will be increased from 5 to 9."

When informed of the possible penalties when she reached the fourth tee box, Davis admitted she was shaken, and she ended up with a double bogey on the fourth and a bogey on the fifth.

Of her mental state at that point, Davis said, “I was a little back and forth [mentally] on the fourth hole. I was trying to hit my shot, but obviously thinking about the four [penalty shots].”

Davis regrouped impressively by hitting approach shots inside six feet on both the seventh and eighth holes to make birdie. She also birdied the 13th and 14th and chipped to six feet on the par-5 18th, but missed the birdie putt.

“Aside from hole 1, I played pretty good today,’ Davis said. “I hit a lot of shots close. The putter wasn’t really rolling, but I hit good shots.”

 

If there is any consolation for Davis, she won last year despite shooting 76 in the second round. She opened with a 70 at Champions Retreat and won by shooting three-under-par 69 on Saturday at Augusta.

[Grumps 3,704]

On 3/30/2023 at 7:20 PM, augolf1716 said:

This explains it

In the first round of the ANWA at Champions Retreat, Davis received a pair of two-stroke penalties after she lifted, cleaned and replaced her ball while it was in the rough after hitting her drive on the first hole and after hitting her second-shot approach to the green. According to the Model Local Rule E-3 distributed by the ANWA competition committee, the field of 72 players was only allowed to play preferred lies from the areas cut to the fairway height or less.

Davis was informed of the potential penalties on the fourth tee, but it wasn’t until after her round when she entered the scoring area that she was officially assessed the four strokes, signing for a four-over-par 76. She was tied for 43rd place instead of being tied for 13th with a 72. The top-ranked amateur in the world, Rose Zhang, set the pace by shooting six-under-par 66—the lowest score on either course in the tournament’s four-year history. The top 30 and ties after Thursday’s second round at Champions will advance to the ANWA’s final round on Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club.

Davis, who spoke to the media with composure, laughing a few times, said she knew the field was playing preferred lies, but was unaware of the Model Local Rule. She said that before starting the round she asked her group scorer if the preferred lies would be for all of the course. She said he told her yes. “I guess he didn’t know,” Davis said.

Of course, players are deemed ultimately responsible for knowing the specific rules for each tournament. There are junior events, for example, in which they do play preferred lies throughout the course, including rough. On this occasion, Davis simply missed the memo.

“It’s all right. It happens,” she said. “It’s a learning experience.”

Davis started her round on the first hole of Champions Retreat by missing the fairway to the right. She picked the ball up, had her caddie clean it, and then replaced it. Her approach shot then went into the rough, and she again lifted it and replaced it. She would eventually bogey the hole.

Technically speaking, Davis was not violating the Model Local Rule E-3 that the ANWA’s competition committee put in place for the tournament and notified players about on Tuesday in a memo. Due to recent rains, the committee said that preferred lies would be allowed for areas cut to fairway height or less. “When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once using a preferred lie by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it” from a relief point that is within one club length of the original spot and no nearer the hole.

 

In Davis’ case, she was penalized for two things: moving her ball by picking it up, and then not replacing it properly. A statement on the ruling from James Hyler Jr., chairman of the ANWA competition committees, said, “During play of her first hole, Anna Davis lifted her ball and failed to replace it on its original spot on two separate occurrences. Under Rule 9.4, Ms. Davis has been penalized two strokes for each occurrence of playing from a wrong place. Her score on hole 1 will be increased from 5 to 9."

When informed of the possible penalties when she reached the fourth tee box, Davis admitted she was shaken, and she ended up with a double bogey on the fourth and a bogey on the fifth.

Of her mental state at that point, Davis said, “I was a little back and forth [mentally] on the fourth hole. I was trying to hit my shot, but obviously thinking about the four [penalty shots].”

Davis regrouped impressively by hitting approach shots inside six feet on both the seventh and eighth holes to make birdie. She also birdied the 13th and 14th and chipped to six feet on the par-5 18th, but missed the birdie putt.

“Aside from hole 1, I played pretty good today,’ Davis said. “I hit a lot of shots close. The putter wasn’t really rolling, but I hit good shots.”

 

If there is any consolation for Davis, she won last year despite shooting 76 in the second round. She opened with a 70 at Champions Retreat and won by shooting three-under-par 69 on Saturday at Augusta.

Thanks!

[augolf1716 21,102]

Didn't want to waste time starting a new thread but the men's golf team sucked it up the last two rounds of stroke play in SEC tourney. Not a huge deal we'll still get in the regionals but not a good time to start  playing bad. I had great expectations for this team for national's. We'll just have to see how it works out.

Golf can be a great/horrible game/sport when it comes to mind games/mental 

[AUINSY 2,228]

49 minutes ago, augolf1716 said:

Golf can be a great/horrible game/sport when it comes to mind games/mental

sounds about right…you talking about yourself or the sport?! 🤐

[augolf1716 21,102]

1 hour ago, AUINSY said:

sounds about right…you talking about yourself or the sport?! 🤐

Both why I could never turn try pro golf after Auburn knew I wasn't mentally tough enough. I know you were joking just a little insight

[AUINSY 2,228]

22 minutes ago, augolf1716 said:

Both why I could never turn try pro golf after Auburn knew I wasn't mentally tough enough. I know you were joking just a little insight

You’re way better than I could ever be, I struggle to even hit the dang ball at a Top Golf 🤣🤷‍♂️

[augolf1716 21,102]

4 hours ago, AUINSY said:

You’re way better than I could ever be, I struggle to even hit the dang ball at a Top Golf 🤣🤷‍♂️

I use to hit a 2500 golf balls a week at the range while at AU. Would have been nice to have a Top Golf back in those days