Big hitting Phillis leaves Davies in awe

BY Liz White | ALPG Tour | 2010 Women's NSW Open | Round Two | 07 Feb 2010

It’s not often Laura Davies is intimidated on a golf course but for the first two rounds of the Bing Lee/Samsung NSW Open the big hitting Brit admits she has been blown away by a rookie pro from New Zealand.

22-year-old Phillis Meti is only two months into her professional career yet already those who know are excited about her incredible raw talent and unbelievable strength.

She rips her drives up to 390 metres and according to Davies, Meti is the game’s next John Daly.

“If she ever goes to America hitting it that far they will love it, it will be like John Daly all over again,” said Davies, winner of over 75 tournaments worldwide.

“I loved watching Phyllis she is the only player I have ever played with and I feel completely out powered against.

“She is just that much longer it is incredible, she hits it 60 yards past me.

“A lot of the longer players in America, I am about the same as, but Phillis not a chance. She is raw talent at the moment and pure strength.”

For the quietly spoken Meti the nod from Davies almost knocked this solid 6 foot Aucklander off her feet.

“Wow that’s amazing to come from Laura Davies, that is something I will treasure, it means a lot coming from her,” she said.

Meti has been playing golf for ten years but not seriously. In her junior years she was busy representing her country in shot put, discus and outrigger canoeing. There was also playing netball at provincial representative level.

“I would train early in the morning for canoeing and after school for netball and athletics,” she said.

“I don’t know how I did it. I had a busy lifestyle.”

It was only in late 2008 that the goal defence netballer decided to hang up her skirt for good.

She has no coach at the moment, but this 2006 world’s longest drive champ knows what she needs to do to take her game to the next level.

“I have a lot of practice to do,” she said.

“A lot of putting practice just to refine my stroke, my chipping wasn’t too bad my approach shots aren’t that great, but if I give myself a chance I will be able to put it in the hole.”

At the moment she is wrestling with the advice she has received from many pros, that is to put the driver in the bag and sacrifice distance for accuracy. But that’s not the way Phillis sees her game.

“They are thinking that if I can control my shots a lot better which is easier with an iron maybe I will play better golf,” she said.

“But I like playing my game. I like playing long and when I learn to control my recovery shots a lot better my scores will be a lot lower.”

To watch Meti stalking the fairways is to watch someone who just loves competing. Her dad, Raz, is on the bag and the pair can be seen laughing at Phillis’ good and bad shots.

But don’t be fooled into thinking Meti isn’t paying attention. She reckons she has had one of the best golf lessons in her life, watching a fellow big hitter shoot low.

“I hit the ball wide. I am not down the middle like some of the other players but it was so nice and inspirational that Laura can recover and hit some good shots,” she said.

" I have learnt that it is doable, the fact that if I am wide and I have a recovery shot it is definitely doable."

If Davies is ever matched with Meti again she says she wouldn’t mind a bit.

“I think she has got a big future,” she said.

“She is the sort of player if I get drawn with her every week I’d love it because it is just bloody good fun.”

As for Phillis she is aiming to take on the best on the USLPGA and she has but one dream.

“Playing golf in America and be walking down the fairway with Laura Davies hopefully.”

For the fans that really would be a treat.