Laura Davies tips teenager Charley Hull to inspire the next generation

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/apr/23/charley-hull-laura-davies-solheim-cup

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The Tiger Woods effect is well known. But what about the Charley Hull equivalent? Laura Davies, the most successful British female golfer of all time, believes the example of Hull can inspire a new generation. Hull won a first professional victory this year, days before her 18th birthday, and sits inside the top 50 players in the world. The focus is now fully on when Hull will win her first major championship.

"You won't see what Charley has done for a long time," Davies says. "She had five second places right off the bat last year, was in a Solheim Cup team after only five months on tour, was the star of the show in that event and now has chances to win a major.

"There are no weak points in her game. She is very confident, without being cocky. She plays golf the way I played golf, and still do really. She gets her driver out on pretty much every hole, goes for pins and isn't scared of messing things up; because she is trying to win.

"It has to be an inspiration for any young girl watching the Solheim Cup or any of these other tournaments. If you are 12 or 13, Charley is only a few years ahead of that.

"She is setting an example to the young kids to come through and play. That's what Tiger did; that's why you see so many young players on tour now, because Tiger made the game interesting."

Hull and Davies will both perform at this year's Ricoh Women's British Open. The event, which was officially launched on Tuesday, takes place in July at Royal Birkdale, immediately before the Open Championship, with a prize fund of £1.8m.

Davies may now be 50, but her golfing appetite remains despite a rankings plummet having a negative impact on the number of tournaments she can compete in. "I am still as enthusiastic as ever," she adds. "I still think I can win, even if not many other people do, because I know how well I have been hitting the ball. If I didn't think I could still win, I wouldn't bother."

Dawson deserves a positive legacy

Peter Dawson's successor at the Royal & Ancient is likely to come from outside of golf's governing body, after the chief executive's upcoming retirement was confirmed on Tuesday.

Dawson, who holds a separate role as the president of the international golf federation, will leave office in St Andrews next September. He had been instrumental in golf's return to the Olympics, which he will see through to the Games in Rio as part of his IGF commitment.

The recruitment firm Spencer Stuart will oversee the hunt for a new chief executive. The post, which Dawson took on in 1999, will be advertised this weekend.

This September, of course, will see an historic vote held on whether or not female members are to be permitted at the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. There is an expectancy – but only that – that the motion will be carried in thereby offering Dawson a positive legacy.

He could never be regarded as one of golf's great revolutionaries, but Dawson has on the whole done a fine job in hauling the commercial operation of the R&A into the 21st century. He is entitled to depart with the sport's best wishes.

Will Wentworth enjoy McIlroy?

It remains to be seen whether or not Rory McIlroy will appear at the European Tour's flagship event in England, next month's BMW PGA Championship. Time is fast running out for confirmation one way or another.

When asked about his participation during a discussion at the Shell Houston Open, the Northern Irishman was unable to provide confirmation either way. To be fair to McIlroy, his 2014 schedule has proved perfectly fluid thus far and will be subject to further alterations.

Two things can be said with certainty here; the Wentworth venue has never been among McIlroy's favourites, and the European Tour will be using every tactic possible to try and coax its star attraction.