Davis Riley Explained

Davis Riley
Birth Date:17 December 1996
Birth Place:Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Weight:175lb
Residence:Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
College:Alabama
Yearpro:2019
Tour:PGA Tour
Extour:Korn Ferry Tour
Prowins:4
Pgawins:2
Nwidewins:2
Masters:DNP
Usopen:T31: 2022
Open:CUT: 2023
Pga:T13: 2022

Davis Riley (born December 17, 1996) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.

Amateur career

Riley was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He attended Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, winning the Mississippi state title four straight years.[1] In 2015, he was named All-USA Boys Golf Player of the Year by USA Today.[2] Riley made the final of the U.S. Junior Amateur two years in a row, joining Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth as the only players to appear in the championship match twice.[3] In 2013, he lost the final to Scottie Scheffler when he called a penalty on himself on the last hole.[4] He was a member of the American team at the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup that defeated the European team 16–8 in Perthshire, Scotland.

Riley enrolled at Alabama in 2015. He was a Second Team All-SEC as a sophomore and was ranked as the best collegiate player in the country entering his junior year.[5] He played in the Palmer Cup in 2018, compiling a 2–2 record in the American win over the International team.[6]

Riley turned professional in 2019.[7]

Professional career

Riley joined the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020, earning his first win at the Panama Championship in February.[8] He added a second title at the TPC San Antonio Championship in July, finishing the combined 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour season ninth on the points list to earn his PGA Tour card.[9] While playing the Korn Ferry Tour, Riley was roommates with Will Zalatoris, who had defeated him in the U.S. Junior Amateur final in 2014.[10]

In March 2022, Riley took a two-shot lead into the final round of the Valspar Championship before losing on the second playoff hole to Sam Burns.[11] He finished fourth in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans while partnering with Zalatoris.[12] The following week, he finished in 5th place at the Mexico Open.

Riley has qualified for the U.S. Open twice, missing the cut in both 2015 and 2020.[13]

In April 2023, Riley earned his first PGA Tour title when he won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with partner Nick Hardy.[14]

In May 2024, Riley won the Charles Schwab Challenge for his first individual victory on the PGA Tour.[15] [16]

Professional wins (4)

PGA Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runners-up
1Apr 23, 2023Zurich Classic of New Orleans
(with Nick Hardy)
64-66-63-65=258 −302 strokes Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor
2May 26, 2024Charles Schwab Challenge66-64-66-70=266 −145 strokes Keegan Bradley, Scottie Scheffler

PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

Korn Ferry Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Feb 2, 2020Panama Championship−10 (67-70-64-69=270)1 stroke Roberto Díaz
2Jul 18, 2020TPC San Antonio Championship−16 (70-69-66-67=272)2 strokes Paul Barjon, Taylor Pendrith

Results in major championships

Results not in chronological order before 2020.

Tournament2015201620172018
Masters Tournament
U.S. OpenCUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament20192020202120222023
Masters Tournament
PGA ChampionshipT13CUT
U.S. OpenCUTT31
The Open ChampionshipNTCUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

Results in The Players Championship

CUT = missed the halfway cut

Results in World Golf Championships

"T" = Tied

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

2014 (won)

2018 (won)

Notes and References

  1. Alabama-bound Davis Riley transitions from junior to amateur . Golfweek . July 2, 2015 . May 20, 2022.
  2. News: All-USA Boys Golf Player of the Year: Davis Riley . USA Today . June 16, 2015 . May 20, 2022.
  3. News: Hattiesburg's Riley places second at U.S. Junior Amateur . The Clarion Ledger . July 26, 2014 . May 20, 2022.
  4. Web site: Mississippi teen falls on final hole of prestigious U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship by self reporting one-shot penalty . Yahoo Sports . July 30, 2013 . May 20, 2022.
  5. Web site: 2017–18 Men's Golf Roster – Davis Riley . University of Alabama . May 20, 2022.
  6. News: Alabama golfers earn wins at Palmer Cup . The Tuscaloosa News . July 7, 2018 . May 20, 2022.
  7. Casey . Kevin . Alabama's Davis Riley to turn pro, skip final semester . Golfweek.com . December 6, 2018 . May 20, 2022.
  8. Web site: Wildhack . Sean . Riley wins Panama Championship, moves atop The 25 . PGA Tour . February 2, 2020 . May 20, 2022.
  9. Kelly . Todd . Davis Riley wins the KFT's TPC San Antonio Championship at the Oaks . Golfweek . July 18, 2020 . May 20, 2022.
  10. Web site: Wildhack . Sean . Zalatoris, Riley progress from U.S. Junior finalists to roommates . PGA Tour . April 3, 2020 . May 20, 2022.
  11. Harig . Bob . Davis Riley Falls Short in Valspar Playoff But Finds Much to Build On . Sports Illustrated . March 20, 2022 . May 20, 2022.
  12. Web site: Duncan . Jeff . Zurich Classic adds rising stars Will Zalatoris and Davis Riley to 2022 field . NOLA.com . April 8, 2022 . May 20, 2022.
  13. Web site: Future Alabama Golfer Davis Riley Qualifies for 2015 U.S. Open . Tide1009.com . June 9, 2015 . May 20, 2022.
  14. News: Martel . Brett . Riley, Hardy capture first PGA Tour wins at Zurich Classic . Associated Press News . 23 April 2023 . 23 April 2023.
  15. News: Hawkins . Stephen . Davis Riley gets 1st individual PGA Tour win by 5 at Colonial in final group with Scheffler . Associated Press News . 26 May 2024 . 26 May 2024.
  16. Web site: Davis Riley captures first individual Tour win by five-stroke margin at Charles Schwab Challenge . PGA Tour . Associated Press . 27 May 2024 . 27 May 2024.