Aussie gun exits ‘doldrums’ with crazy win

Turning to a hypnotherapist to get himself out of the “doldrums” proved a masterstroke for Cam Davis, who secured his second PGA Tour title in dramatic circumstances, watching from the driving range as Akshay Bhatia missed a short 18th-hole putt that would have forced a playoff in Detroit.

On a big day for the Australian contingent, Min Woo Lee also warmed up for his Olympic debut with his best PGA Tour finish since March, costing himself a chance at a breakthrough victory with an 18th-hole bogey while sharing the lead.

But it was Davis, 29, who hadn’t finished inside the top 40 in his past five events, missing two cuts including at the US Open, who recovered from missing the green at the final hole to make a par that proved crucial in his one-shot win which netted him a $2.5m pay day.

Both of Davis’ PGA Tour wins have come at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, having recorded his maiden win at the event in 2021, and he’s set to jump 30 places in the rankings to a career-high 38.

Emotional in the immediate aftermath, Davis said he was a “different person” to the one who had been playing poorly in recent weeks as he lapped up his second win on tour.

“From where I was a couple of weeks ago until today, I’m just a completely different person,” he said after finishing at 18-under.

“I’m a little emotional. I wouldn’t wish what happened to Akshay on anyone, but I’ve done a lot of grinding to get myself out of a hole and to just all of a sudden do that, it feels pretty good.

“I started working with a hypnotherapist a few weeks ago to take another angle and try and get myself sorted out and Grace has done an awesome job.

“I honestly haven’t been in a very good place mentally at all for the last six months or so. I felt like all the opportunities have been slipping out of my hands as the year progresses without playing very good golf.

“I felt like a change of direction was definitely needed, something that I was actually going to stick to because I’m definitely someone that will start doing something and if it doesn’t feel like it’s helping straight away, it’s very easy to drop it.

“Sticking with the work that I’m doing with Grace has made a very big impact very quickly ... I had a lot of support to get me out of the doldrums.

“When Akshay missed that putt, it’s a combination of shock and feeling bad for him, but at the same time just realizing that the huge burden of trying to win again is off the

shoulders.”

Batia only had one way to describe his final hole miss, his first three-putt for the tournament.

“It sucks, no other way to put it,” he said.

“I mean, just sucks.”

Lee had his chance to get into the clubhouse on the same score as Davis after chipping in from off the green twice during his final round and then making a birdie at the 17th.

But his approach to the final green flew long, and he couldn’t get up and down for par, missing the playoff by a single shot.

It was Lee’s best finish since he tied for second in March, coming just days after he secured his Olympic ticket where he will play with Jason Day in Paris.

“I had a really good chance there, again. I needed to play aggressive,” he said.

“Unlucky with the bogey on the last, but I played really good, but there’s a lot of things that I need to work on to get it to the next level.

“But I’m very happy with the week.”

Lee will play in three more events, including the British Open at Royal Troon, before the Olympics.