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 The former world number one was outside the top eight automatic
qualifiers for the biennial team event going into this week's
European Masters at the Buckinghamshire Golf Club on the outskirts
of London but there is no doubting the British veteran's intentions.
"I think I'm good enough to be among the top 12 players in Europe
but it's all about results and the results aren't good enough at the
moment," Davies told Reuters in an interview.
"I'm 10th on the points list and I need to be fourth. I'm thinking
down the road for the next Solheim Cup as well, I'm not giving up on
that at all."
The automatic qualifiers will come from the top four in the Solheim
Cup points table and the leading four in the world rankings while
Swedish captain Carin Koch also has four wildcard selections up her
sleeve.
Davies is already the oldest competitor to feature for Europe in the
women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup, having been 47 when she played
in the winning side of 2011.
If she can make the team that will go for an historic third straight
victory at St Leon Rot in Germany this year, the Englishwoman will
surpass Koch's captaincy counterpart Juli Inkster who was 51 years
and two months when she represented the U.S. in 2011.
"I don't mind those sort of records because the fact I'm still being
considered means I can still play," said Davies who turns 52 in
October.
MOTIVATING FACTORS
The modern-day achievements of fellow golden oldies Tom Watson and
Colin Montgomerie are extra motivating factors for the player who
has amassed 80 tournament victories in a glittering career.
"Look at Monty," said Davies, "he was doing really well at the U.S.
Open the other week. I know he fell away but it doesn't matter how
old you are if you can still play.
"The biggest one ever was Tom Watson at the age of 59 at Turnberry,"
she said, referring to the American's playoff defeat by his
compatriot Stewart Cink in the 2009 British Open.
"I'm 51 and I'm playing at Turnberry this year," added Davies of
this month's Women's British Open.
First, though, she needs to iron out some glaring deficiencies in
her game.
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"I'm playing well, I'm hitting it good but not putting well enough
and not chipping well enough," said Davies who shot a 71 to lie five
strokes off the first-round lead held by Frenchwoman Sophie
Giquel-Bettan at the Buckinghamshire on Thursday.
"I think my game tee to green is as good as it was in 1996 when I
was at my very best. The ball-striking is almost as good but the
short game is not even close.
"I used to miss a green and it was an automatic up and down, it's
maybe one out of 10 now whereas before it was nine out of 10,"
explained Davies who is without a Ladies European Tour victory since
she reeled off five tournament wins in 2010.
"It's hugely frustrating. All I can do is keep practicing, I don't
go to the range much these days... I just go to the golf course and
practise chipping and putting."
Davies would be an automatic choice as a future Solheim Cup captain
but has never shown any sign of being a contender for that role and,
to borrow a memorable quote from former British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher, "the lady's not for turning".
"I still want to play in it," she said. "Maybe when I absolutely
think I have no chance of playing in it my view might change but I
doubt it because it just doesn't interest me."
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
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