While several Australian golfers are openly talking up their Olympic ambition, Cam Davis almost refuses to entertain it.
The 28-year-old from Sydney’s northern beaches appears locked in a six-player battle for the two men’s spots up for grabs on the team at Paris 2024.
Come selection time mid-next year, the tickets will be offered to the two who sit highest on the Official World Golf Rankings. That being said, Jason Day’s Games interest is yet to be confirmed, and he has the option of declining an invite.
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After the OWGR was updated on Monday, Davis sat at No.43.
The Aussies ahead of him are Cameron Smith (No.20), Day (No.21), and Min Woo Lee (No.38). Closely behind is veteran Adam Scott (No.46), and the other making it interesting is Lucas Herbert (No.66).
While Lee was being fitted for an Olympic kit this week, and Smith has spoken often about his desire to play at a second Games, Davis is taking a very different approach.
“The Olympics is a goal that I’m not actively thinking about all the time,” Davis told Wide World of Sports on Tuesday.
“I feel like the more I focus or stress about that, the more focus is going to be taken away from the things that are making me play well.
Watch the 2023 Australian Open golf live and free from November 30 on Nine and 9Now.
“I’m taking things like the Presidents Cup and the Olympics next year as things I’d like to have as a pleasant surprise by the time we get to that time of the year, having played a lot of really good golf to get into position for it.
“They are definitely things I would love to experience and do well in. Fingers crossed the game keeps trending well and the results lead to some opportunities like that. It would be a lot of fun to represent the country again.
“Sometimes big things like that to focus on help some people, and for others like myself I feel like the small-picture things, done well, will lead to the good big things.”
If Davis continues playing like he has in 2023 to date, his world ranking is certain to climb further.
A tie for fourth at the PGA Championship – easily his best result at one of the four majors – and eight top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour highlight his best season since turning pro in 2016.
Watch the 2023 Australian Open golf live and free from November 30 on Nine and 9Now.
He returns home to Sydney this week in the hope of adding a second Australian Open to his trophy cabinet, and at the same course he triumphed in 2017 – The Australian.
”It’s very cool being back at a place where so many memorable moments happened,” Davis said.
“It’s going to be fun as I walk around the course to see places where I hit important shots, and moments that kind of created the winning moment.
“If I can play the way I did tee to green last week (at the Australian PGA Championship), and just make a few more putts, I feel really good about it.
“The game has been pretty good for a while so hopefully it peaks at the right time for this.”
As of Tuesday, Davis was rated third favourite to win the Australian Open behind countrymen Lee and Smith.