Davies eyes 2014 title treble

Gareth Davies is in contention to complete an impressive hat-trick of PGA titles in the space of just six months as he heads to Turkey for the Titleist PGA Play-Offs.

Davies, an assistant at Abbeydale Golf Club in Sheffield, lifted the Powerade PGA Assistants’ Championship in June and was a member of Yorkshire’s victorious SkyCaddie PGA England & Wales Inter-County Championship team.

This year’s tournament, which will take place on November 29 – December 1 over Antalya Golf Club’s PGA Sultan Course, will see the players battle it out for three cherished places available for next year’s Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team and one of 10 places at the 2015 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

There will also be a range of European Tour and Challenge Tour invites for the highest placed finishers.

Davies, who recently competed in Australia on the back of his Assistants’ win at Coventry, will be among a strong northern contingent in Turkey.

He will be joined by Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship winner Christopher McDonnell (Troon), Oaks pro John Mellor, below, – who has his own links to the Steel City after playing in goal for Sheffield Wednesday at youth team level - and former PGA Cup player David Shacklady (Mossock Hall).

“There are some very good players in the play-offs who I know from my time playing on Tour such as Greig Hutcheon, Benn Barham, Andrew Willey, Matt Cort and Chris Gane,” said Davies, who is now in the second year of his PGA foundation degree after a decade competing on both the European and Challenge Tours.

“You look at that list, plus the guys I know from my region, and it’s going to be an exciting tournament and a keenly competitive one.

“I certainly don’t fear any of them but I have a lot of respect for them and I know if I am going to do well then I am going to have to play well.”

With two national titles under his belt this year plus a top 10 finish in Australia, Davies is in good form, however preparations have taken a back seat with more pressing priorities!

“I am playing catch up with my assignments with the SkyCaddie tournament and Australia coming back-to-back,” said the 37-year-old.

“I’ve got four to get done by the end of January, along with my coaching and work commitments, so there hasn’t been much practice. But I know my game is in reasonable shape.”

Titleist brand director, Matthew Johnson, commented: “Titleist strives to support golf in all aspects of the game and our partnership with The PGA and the PGA Play-Offs offers a fantastic platform to strengthen our ties with all PGA Professionals.

"We take great pride in validating the #1 ball in golf, used by the best players in the world from touring professionals through to PGA Professionals and elite amateurs, which in turn influences golfers of all abilities to put their trust in the #1 ball in golf to help them shoot their best scores.

“The PGA Play-Offs is a unique event in bringing the leading PGA pros together to compete for an opportunity to tee up at some of the European Tour’s biggest events including the flagship BMW PGA Championship and we look forward to seeing an exciting conclusion to the season."