Cameron Davis has today confirmed he will return to the Sandbelt Invitational in 2023 after claiming the overall and men’s professional titles last year on debut at the innovative tournament hosted by major champion Geoff Ogilvy.
Starting December 11 this year across Victoria Golf Club, Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club, Yarra Yarra Golf Club and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, the Sandbelt Invitational clearly made its mark on Davis. The New South Welshman spreading word of the event around the world.
Based in the United States and a winner on the PGA Tour, Davis burst onto the professional scene when he won the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club in 2017, a venue he will return to as part of a run of tournaments at home
that concludes on the Melbourne’s famed Sandbelt.
“I absolutely loved everything about the Sandbelt Invitational in 2022 and can’t wait to come back this year,” Davis said.
“The courses are obviously some of the best in the world, while the concept of mixing pros and amateurs, men and women, was so much fun. Hopefully I can have Geoff present me with another trophy this year.”
The winner of the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic on the PGA Tour, Davis played on his
first Presidents Cup team in late 2022, with tournament host and co-creator with Mike
Clayton, Ogilvy one of the Assistant Captains on Trevor Immelman’s International Team.
“Spending time with Cam as part of the Presidents Cup was fantastic to get to
know him a little better, and I couldn’t be prouder to call him a Sandbelt Invitational
champion,” Ogilvy said.
“Coming back to defend the title, and spreading the word of our tournament far and wide, is all you need to know about what sort of guy Cam Davis is.”
Ranked No.42 in the world, Davis has enjoyed a banner year on the world stage, with the 28-year-old recording 11 top-20 finishes on the PGA Tour, highlighted by a share of fourth at the PGA Championship and tie for sixth at The Players Championship.
Playing alongside Momoka Kobori over the final two rounds of the 2022 Sandbelt Invitational, few players are more qualified to offer the guidance and unique learning opportunities to the younger players and amateurs in the field than Davis. His role the latest in a long history of Australia’s best players mentoring the next generation that dates back to Norman von Nida helping a young Peter Thomson.
Winner of the 2015 Australian Amateur, and individual and team winner of the Eisenhower Trophy in 2016, Davis has a deep understanding of the journey from elite amateur to professional. His lived experience to be passed on to his fellow competitors across the Sandbelt as he attempts to become the first two-time winner.
“We are so excited to have Cam back for this year’s event, not only because he is among the best Australian players, but because of what he can offer to the younger players in the field,” Clayton said.
“Having a player of his calibre enjoying the tournament and experience is exactly what we had in mind when formulating the Sandbelt Invitational.”
With exactly one month to go, more player announcements are set for the coming weeks as preparations ramp up, with the Sandbelt Invitational made possible through the support of Visit Victoria.