PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – It’s been a super summer for Super Billy Davis.
Davis, 17, of Spring Valley, California, whose Instagram handle is @SuperBillyDavis, will try to cap off a magical run with victory at the AJGA’s Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, Sept. 1-3.
Davis is the twin brother of 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Anna Davis – “she’s two minutes older than me,” he says – and busting out of her shadow in a big way.
Beginning in December, he’s finished tied for second in the Jones Cup Junior Invitational, won two AJGA titles including the Mayakoba Invitational in April, finished third in the Toyota World Cup representing the U.S. in Japan and helped the West team win the Wyndham Cup in July. At the U.S. Junior Championship later that month, his first USGA championship, he advanced to the semifinals before losing to eventual runner-up Joshua Bai of New Zealand. A week later, on August 1, he tied for second in the Junior PGA Championship.
Add it all up and he has progressed from likely watching his sister from outside the ropes to earning a berth alongside her as a member of the 12-person U.S. Junior Ryder Cup (six boys and six girls), which will compete in Rome Sept. 26-28.
“It’s really unexpected,” he said. “It wasn’t something I had my sights set on at all, but once I got on this run I ended up earning a whole bunch of points.”
Check out the swing of Billy Davis at 17 @TPCSawgrass. The twin brother of ANWA champ Anna has game too. #AJGA pic.twitter.com/pkuktKLVxD
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) September 1, 2023
Indeed, he did, and at minimum he will enjoy some good pizza, pasta and gelato as a result while hoping he also can pick the brain of fellow San Diego native Xander Schauffele in Rome. Davis has climbed to fifth in the AJGA’s Rolex rankings and No. 460 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He still has a long way to go to catch his twin, who is ranked No. 4 in the women’s ranking and finished second at the LPGA Tour’s Mizuho Americas Open. Anna, who made her bucket hat famous during her victorious turn at Augusta National last year, is just behind Rose Zhang as a leading lady of women’s golf. Asked how he handles being in her shadows, Super Billy says it’s actually pretty cool and has its benefits – such as when they go to their home course in San Diego and everyone wants to talk to big sister.
“She can hardly practice while I can do my thing,” he said. “Every once in a while, someone will stop me and say, ‘Hey, didn’t I see you caddying for your sister on TV?’ ”
But Super Billy won’t be under the radar for long if he keeps racking up wins and top finishes in the biggest junior events. He is yet another super-talented ballstriking machine. He’s 135 pounds soaking wet and with his glasses on – one can only imagine that once the Auburn University commit (as is his sister) gets on a rigorous training program and grows into his wiry frame, he’ll only become longer. He’s already got enough pop. When asked how he fares against his sister, he says he more than holds his own. And in case you were wondering if a teen who goes by Super Billy has the swagger to match that of his sister, he adds, “It’s not a fair fight when we play from the tips.”
