‘In a bad place’: Aussie opens up on dark days — and what sparked rapid PGA resurgence
Turning to a hypnotherapist to pull himself out of a prolonged slump proved to be a game-changer for Cam Davis, who clinched his second PGA Tour title in dramatic fashion at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. The 29-year-old Australian golfer, who had been struggling to even crack the top 40 in recent tournaments and…
Turning to a hypnotherapist to pull himself out of a prolonged slump proved to be a game-changer for Cam Davis, who clinched his second PGA Tour title in dramatic fashion at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. The 29-year-old Australian golfer, who had been struggling to even crack the top 40 in recent tournaments and had missed two cuts, including at the US Open, watched nervously from the driving range as Akshay Bhatia missed a crucial short putt on the 18th hole that would have forced a playoff.
Davis, who had missed the green on the final hole but managed to secure a vital par, emerged victorious by one shot, earning a $2.5 million payday. This victory marked his second triumph at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, his first coming in 2021, and is expected to propel him up 30 places in the rankings to a career-high of 38.
Visibly emotional after his win, Davis reflected on the stark contrast between his recent struggles and his current success. “From where I was a couple of weeks ago until today, I’m just a completely different person,” he remarked after finishing at 18-under par. “I’m a little emotional. I wouldn’t wish what happened to Akshay on anyone, but I’ve done a lot of grinding to get myself out of a hole, and to just all of a sudden do that, it feels pretty good.”
Davis attributed his turnaround to the work he has been doing with a hypnotherapist, which he began at the urging of his wife, Grace. Despite initial resistance, he finally decided to give it a try. “I started working with a hypnotherapist a few weeks ago to take another angle and try and get myself sorted out, and Grace has done an awesome job,” he explained. “I honestly haven’t been in a very good place mentally at all for the last six months or so. I felt like all the opportunities had been slipping out of my hands as the year progressed without playing very good golf.”
The golfer admitted that he needed a new direction and something he could commit to long-term. “I felt like a change of direction was definitely needed, something that I was actually going to stick to because I’m definitely someone that will start doing something, and if it doesn’t feel like it’s helping straight away, it’s very easy to drop it. Sticking with the work that I’m doing with Grace has made a very big impact very quickly. I had a lot of support to get me out of the doldrums.”
Davis’ score of 18-under was enough to secure his narrow victory over Bhatia, who faltered at a critical moment on the 18th green. This win not only boosts Davis’ confidence but also cements his place among the top golfers in the world.