Rookie Jack Davidson says he is fully aware of the opportunities and incentives that come along with playing well on the Sunshine Tour, and intends to take advantage of them all as he navigates his professional campaign on South African soil.
The Welshman got his Sunshine Tour playing privileges after coming in in a share of the second spot at the Theo Manyama Qualifying School at Parys Golf Estate and Vaal de Grace Golf Estate in March. This was after he had lost his DP World Tour status, which he had held for a season.
“I always knew that the Sunshine Tour was a strong Tour with amazing opportunities,” he says. “Through the years while playing in Europe, I’ve seen a lot of the South African players come over from the Sunshine Tour. Through their opportunities, they get Hotel Planner Tour cards; they get DP World Tour cards, and they excel from there.
“The Sunshine Tour itself is a major Tour but another benefit to it is to have those kinds of opportunities come the end of it, if you have a really good year. So, I was aware of that coming over. It’s one of the Tours that offer the most opportunities for playing good golf, but also playing on a high-level Tour itself.
“I was very pleasantly surprised to see how the Tour is run; the course these guys play. But also just the way the players are with each other; the camaraderie on the Tour is amazing. It’s very welcoming, especially if you’re a foreign player. I just love it here and the opportunities you get for playing good golf is second to none.”
Davidson cites the cases of Investec South African Open champion, Casey Jarvis, and Alfred Dunhill Championship winner Jayden Schaper as prime examples of the kind of opportunities and pathways the Sunshine Tour carves for its members.
“Luckily, I’ve had a good start to what’s like a pre-season of the Sunshine Tour so far,” Davidson says. “I’ve put myself in a nice position for the rest of the year to try and earn ‘graduation’ and gain those opportunities further down the line. But for now, I am just focused on the Sunshine Tour and trying to play for the rest of the year and play well.
“I keep saying opportunities, but the opportunities you get down the line, which may be next season, it’s amazing. You can really progress. You can see the guys like Casey, Jayden and all those boys, they are potentially going to be playing on the PGA Tour next year and they have come through the Sunshine Tour. It’s no luck. Its just a high standard that when they go over to Europe and play on the DP World Tour, they are at such a high standard, they can compete on any Tour.
“That’s what the Sunshine Tour provides; top quality golf tournaments against top quality competitors, and then they can move on to compete everywhere else. I just hope I can also follow on those footsteps.”
The 29-year-old Weshman has had good start to his Sunshine Tour life. He is lying 12th on The Courier Guy Order of Merit while leading the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings after four tournaments played.
“I’m happy with my results so far,” he says. “I’ve made some changes over the winter with going back to see my old coach in Wales. I was quietly confident going into the season and then I played well at (Theo Manyama) Q-School and finished second there. That was a nice confidence-booster for me.
“And then, having a third and fourth back-to-back in the last two tournaments I played was very nice. But even before that, I played Zimbabwe; felt like I played nicely. It was a fantastic course, very challenging course. I wasn’t quite sharp enough at that time. Thankfully, the following two weeks were very nice for me. So, I’m very keen to come back.
“I’m happy with my start and I’m happy with the position I’m in and very keen to come back out and play again”
With the Sunshine Tour set to return to action with the Sunbet Challenge at Wingate Park Golf Club this week, the traveled Welshman will have another opportunity to challenge for his maiden Sunshine Tour title and join his compatriot as the only players from Wales to win title on the Sunshine Tour.
Article Link: Davidson ready to make Sunshine Tour starts count