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Welshman Rhys Davies Still Loves Cricket but Golf is his Calling

ABU DHABI — When it comes to striking a ball, there is a bit of similarity between cricket and golf. And that cricket experience has helped Rhys Davies when it comes to golf. The Welshman shot a four-under 68 in Round 2 on Friday for an overall 10-under par to be placed among the leaders. Davies had shot a six-under par 66 on Thursday.

Davies played cricket with English county Glamorgan and Wales before he opted to take up golf. Davies, who turned pro in 2007, said that he would be able to get back to cricket but not to the same level as he used to play. “I haven’t played in a couple of years. Hitting a cover drive and tee shot is too similar so I was more of a bowler, more medium-quick. I used to take the new ball and I swung it a little bit. I’m pretty confident I could do it now but not nearly as well as when I used to play,” Davies said about his cricket, on Friday.

Despite being busy at the golf course in the Johannesburg Open in South Africa last week, Davies’ one eye was on the South vs England Test. “I had a very early tee time in Johannesburg last week and I watched the last few sessions, which it got a fair amount of cricket, but too many wickets. So, it wasn’t the best,” said Davies, who finished tied 41^st at the Johannesburg Open.

Davies said that sport was always his calling. “I played sport from a very young age and always had the will to win, whether it’s basketball, golf, cricket or football. It’s always been something that I have it in me that I want to compete and I want to win.”

Coming back to his present love – golf, Davies said: “I played very solidly the last couple of days as my scores would suggest, and I think all parts of my game are coming together so early in the season and that’s encouraging.”

Davies won the Wales Challenge last year for his first Challenge Tour title and he said those experiences have helped on the bigger arena. “Perhaps, it is. I felt comfortable out here. I’ve been lucky to play a few times on the Tour and it does help. When you come to a tough challenge, something where you get used to trying to compete at the top level and it just stands you in good stead for when you come out to the big stage,” he said.

About the conditions at the National Course here, Davies said: “It was benign this morning. The conditions were just about next to perfect, so scoring, you would expect to be good out there. The rough, it is there. It’s not incredibly penal but it’s definitely tough. I try not to think too much of scores because it’s my own game that I’m concentrating on. You’re going to have to expect 15- or 16-under come the end of the week.”