AUGUSTA, Ga. — Cameron Davis, one of the top golfers in the world, was born more than 7,700 miles from Seattle, but for the past eight years it has been home — and he has no plans to leave.
Davis, from Sydney, Australia, began living in the Seattle area in 2017, drawn to the area by Jonika, whom he married in 2020.
Since 2021, the couple has lived in Sammamish, where Jonika grew up and went to Eastlake High School.
This week, Davis is looking for another strong performance at the Masters after finishing in a tie for 12th last year.
Davis was in fifth place through two rounds in 2024, just three shots off the lead. By finishing in the top 12, he earned a berth into this year’s field.
Davis, who shot a 74 in Thursday’s opening round and was tied for 51st, said the Seattle area has become home to him.
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“I’ve been through all the seasons there and I know what to expect,” he said. “I travel to Australia at the end of every year, so I miss a little bit of the winter, but I just love it. I love the mountains, the trees.”
Davis, 30, had an excellent amateur career, and won the Australian Amateur in 2015.
He turned pro in 2016 and, after a disappointing 2017 season on the Canadian Tour, he pulled off a stunning victory in the 2017 Australian Open. He defeated several stars, including Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Cameron Smith.
Davis earned his way onto the PGA Tour in the 2018-19 season, then got his first PGA Tour win in the Rocket Mortgage in Detroit, Mich., in 2021. He won the tournament again last year for his second tour victory.
Davis, who has been ranked as high as No. 38 in the Official World Golf Rankings, is currently at No. 58.
He got off to a good start this season with three finishes in the top 18 in his first four events, including a tie for fifth at Pebble Beach in early February. But he followed that with four straight missed cuts entering the Masters.
But he feels like Augusta National suits his game.
“Any course you grew up watching on TV pretty much your whole life, you feel like you’re going to come along and know every hole out here and how it can be played,” he said. “But it was nice to play better here last year (he was 46th in 2022 in his first Masters). I was in contention for a lot of it. I feel like my good golf does pretty well here.”
Davis said he is happy to represent Seattle. When he’s home, he plays at Sahalee Country Club and Aldarra Golf Club in Sammamish, two courses known for being tough.
Davis shot a 59 at Aldarra in 2022 and has shown he can excel at tough courses, including finishing tied for fourth at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.
Seattle fans will have plenty of time to get to know Davis as he continues his young career.
“We found our forever home,” he said.
Note
Former UW Husky Nick Taylor shot a 73 and is tied for 38th. Lakewood’s Joe Highsmith opened with a 76 in his first-ever round at the Masters and is tied for 73rd.
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