Laura Davies

Dame Laura Jane Davies, (born 5 October 1963) is an English female professional golfer.

She was the 1983 English Intermediate Champion, the 1984 Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Champion and the South Eastern Champion in both 1983 and 1984.

She was also a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Team in 1984.

She has achieved the status of her nation's most accomplished female golfer of modern times, being the second non-American to finish at the top of the LPGA money list as well as winning the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit a record seven times: in 1985, 1986, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2006.

From 1985 to 2010, she won at least one individual title somewhere in the world every season, except for 2005, and was the first golfer, male or female, to win tournaments on five continents in one year.

She is a member of U.S.-based LPGA Tour and a life member of the Ladies European Tour.

She turned professional in 1985.

Davies started her professional career on the WPGET (now Ladies European Tour) in 1985 when she won both Rookie of the Year and Order of Merit titles.

She subsequently won the Sports Journalists' Association Peter Wilson Trophy as International Newcomer of the Year 1985.

She repeated the Order of Merit win in 1986 having won four titles, one of which was the Women's British Open (prior to it becoming a major).

In 1987 she went to the United States and won the U.S. Women's Open in an 18-hole playoff against Ayako Okamoto and Joanne Carner.

It was a victory that led the LPGA to amend its constitution.

Davies was not a member of the LPGA Tour, so the LPGA changed its constitution to Grant Davies automatic membership.

For six days, Davies was holder of both the U.S and British Open titles.

The 1987 Women's British Open took place the week after the U.S. Women's Open and in her defence Davies finished tied second, one shot behind winner Alison Nicholas.

Since 1988 Laura Davies has played on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours.

In 1988 Davies won twice as a rookie on the LPGA Tour, three times on the Ladies European Tour and once in Japan, becoming the first woman ever to win on all three major Tours in the same year.

In 1990 she was a member of the inaugural European Solheim Cup Team.

Davies is the only player to participate in the first 12 Solheim Cup matches (1990–2011) on either the United States or European side.

In 1994 she was the first golfer, male or female, to win on five different golf tours in one calendar year: US, Europe, Asia, Japan and Australia.

and became the first European player to be ranked unofficial number one in the world on the Ping Leaderboard.

Davies was part of the LPGA team at the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge three times between 1994 and 1996.

Her four consecutive victories at the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International between 1994 and 1997 made Davies the first LPGA player to win the same tournament in four consecutive years.

In 1996, she was again ranked number one on the Ping leaderboard.

Davies also was part of a mixed team event of PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players at the JCPenney Classic four times between 1996 and 1999.

Davies won the event in 1999 alongside John Daly.

She represented England at the Women's World Cup of Golf in 2000 (with Trish Johnson when winning individually), 2005 (with Karen Stupples), 2006 (with Kirsty Taylor) and 2007 (with Trish Johnson).

In 2004 Davies was the first woman to compete in the men's European Tour, entering the ANZ Championship in Sydney, Australia, playing from the same tees as the men.

She failed to make the cut, finishing second to last.

She currently holds the LPGA Tour record for most eagles in a season, scoring 19 during the 2004 season.

Davies was the first woman to compete in a European Senior Tour event.

She was a Captain's pick for the International Team at the 2006 Lexus Cup.

She returned as part of every European team through 2011, the only player to do so.

Davies is the all-time leader in points won in the Solheim Cup, breaking the record of Annika Sörenstam by winning a Saturday fourballs match partnered by Melissa Reid on 24 September 2011.

Davies went on the increase her record point total to 25 by halving her singles match with Juli Inkster on 25 September 2011, as the Europeans captured the Solheim Cup for the fourth time.

She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015.

A native of Coventry, Davies began as an amateur international player for Great Britain, compiling a notable record.

As of 2018, Davies has 87 professional wins worldwide, with 20 on the LPGA Tour, including four majors.

She played in the 2018 Shipco Masters in Denmark, from the same tees as her male opponents.

She was appointed as non-playing assistant captain for the European teams at the 2019, 2021 and 2023 Solheim Cup tournaments.