March 21, 2010

In less than a year, PING pro Rhys Davies went from no official tour status to European Tour winner. The 24-year-old Welshman, who played collegiately at East Tennessee State, carded a final round 66 to beat fellow PING pro Louis Oosthuizen and win the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco.

“I’m a little bit lost at the moment – this is all completely surreal to me,” said Davies, who earned his European Tour card via the Challenge Tour last year on the strength of two victories. “It’s all a bit of a blur. I just kept focusing on hitting the ball as close to the flag as I could and holing every putt and I nearly did just about that.”

Paired with overnight leader Oosthuizen in the last group, Davies trailed by two entering the final day. A front nine 33 at the Royal Dar Es Salam GC moved him within one of the lead before he birdied four of his first five holes on the back nine to go up by two—his eventual margin of victory. Davies’ birdie on the par-3 14th and Oosthuizen’s bogey proved the final difference.

Davies, who finished the week 25-under-par, relied on 13 PING clubs, including S57 irons, i15 3-iron, Rapture V2 driver, Rapture hybrid, Tour-W wedges and a Tess putter. Oosthuizen played 14 PING clubs, including the new i15 driver.