Way back in 1996, two of golf’s longest hitters of the golf ball faced a media scrum to promote an Australian Skins tournament at Sanctuary Cove.
England’s Laura Davis looked relaxed while “Long” John Daly smiled nervously ahead of the tournament that also included five-time (British) Open champion Tom Watson and Aussie favourite Peter Senior.
While Daly and Davies thrilled the gallery with their power it was Watson who won most of the cash on offer courtesy of winning two skins to finish with $21,000.
Daly collected $12,000 and Davies and Senior each won one skin and went away with $3750.
“I have never been as nervous as I was on the first tee,” Davies, the top-ranked woman player at the time, said.
She won her money at the first hole despite a poor drive.
“That’s unbelievable,” she said after sinking her par putt. “I like it (skins) already.”
Meanwhile, Senior said he was in awe of Daly’s power and strength after the American launched a 300-plus yard drive on the par-5 ninth hole.
Daly got home with a driver and one-iron.
“I’ve never seen anyone come close to getting home in two shots down that hole,” Senior commented.
Playing off the championship tees, Davies held her own against the male trio and regularly outdrove Watson and Senior.
Still, Watson was pleased Davies was there.
“Laura made a couple of crucial putts to stop John early on,” he said.
“I was particularly impressed with her play.”
Off the tee, Davies certainly kept pace with the men.
“I always hit the ball pretty hard and I was hitting it like I normally do,” she told the media 25 years ago.
“I wasn’t pressing it too much.”
Chief writer David Newbery has been living, breathing and writing and editing golf for more than 30 years. His extensive knowledge of the game comes from covering golf around the world. Hired by Inside Golf in 2009, David previously worked as the editor of The Golfer for 25 years and before that worked for numerous daily newspapers in Australia and overseas. The Brisbane-based journalist describes his golf game as “a work in progress”, but has had the privilege of playing golf with some of the game’s best players including nine-time major winner Gary Player. David enjoys travelling, reading, music, photography and spending time with family and friends – on and off the golf course. 
