A stirring in the valleys as Davies gets closer to Ryder place

Donald and Germany’s Martin Kaymer are the only two from the world’s leading 30 in the field and Davies knows it is a golden opportunity.

If the former British boys’ champion, 25 last Friday, lifts this week’s Wales Open at Celtic Manor, he could well leap to seventh in the Ryder Cup point’s race.

“He is very impressive. He has a great putting stroke and was very solid off the tee.”

“I think people are probably beginning to realise he’s the best putter in the world,” he said.

“I love what he’s doing, so I probably wouldn’t advise him to do anything differently.”

“I am impressed by his mind, his confidence and the way that he deals with pressure.

As excitement in Wales builds towards the country’s first Ryder Cup in October, there is a growing feeling that there might be a Welshman in the team

European Tour rookie Rhys Davies is the player really making his mark.

Since the start of March he has had a win, two runners-up finishes and a third. He lost by a shot to Luke Donald in Madrid on Sunday.

“He will win many times,” Donald said of Davies after they played head-to-head for the last 36 holes.

Price has no doubt that Davies has the qualities needed not only to make the team but also to be a star of it.

In the first two rounds tomorrow and Friday, Davies partners defending champion Jeppe Huldahl and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, another looking to continue his form after closing with a 65 for fourth place in Madrid at the weekend.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie partners Spanish Open champion Alvaro Quiros and England’s Oliver Wilson. Quiros is in the last automatic qualifying position and Wilson is four places below him.

George Findlay recorded the lowest scratch score of 96 in Royal Montrose Golf Club’s 25-hole open.

The Fortrose-based club will host this month’s Scottish senior women’s championship and the Scottish club championship final in September.

The last shot played by a Welsh golfer in the Ryder Cup was Phillip Price’s dramatic winning putt against Phil Mickelson at The Belfry in 2002.

Stuart Benson, the great-great grandson of William Doleman, took part in this year’s event and Stuart’s daughter, Nicole, also played.

The Scottish senior women’s championship will run from Tuesday, June 29, to Friday, July 2, and the Scottish club championship is on Sunday, September 26.

Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club will this year hold two national events – for the first time.

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