Mississippi resident Davis Riley is one of the few golfers from the state to turn up at the Jackson Country Club. The course where he used to practice, Canebrake Country Club in Hattiesburg, is some 100 miles from where he is now. It does bring back memories. 

After all, the Canebrake Country Club served as the launching pad of his career. Playing in majors and winning provided the fuel. Riley recalled how he and his buddies used to raise the stakes by hardwiring their brains to think of the final holes as the 72nd hole of a major. 

The 27-year-old has come a long way. Now a one-time PGA Tour winner, Riley, is doing what he dreamt of as a kid, playing golf professionally. It might not have panned out exactly the way he thought, but Riley is glad nonetheless.

“This is the place we always dreamed to be. I have to pinch myself every now and then, because I’m living out my dream,” Riley was quoted by Clarion Ledger. Yet, not too long ago, Riley’s main concern wasn’t his future. It was his older sister, Caroline. While Riley was at Colonial, his sister went under the knife for a tumor in New York. His sister survived and was well and good. So was Riley after securing his maiden PGA Tour win. Now back in his home state, though, Riley can’t afford to be nostalgic. 

2024 has been mediocre for him, with only 12 cuts made from 25 appearances. Moreover, barring a T19 in 2022 and a T39 in 2019, the 27-year-old has missed cuts thrice at the Sanderson Farms Championship. Since his maiden PGA Tour win at Colonial, Riley has yet to come within the top 30. Clearly, the Charles Schwab victory a few months ago was not the turning point many expected it to be. But it did serve a purpose. One that dates back to 2014.

Davis Riley must be eyeing redemption at Colonial

Davis Riley had an early shot at glory. And by early shot, six years before he turned pro. In 2013, at Martis Camp Club in California, at the US Junior Amateur Championship. On the opposing side was a 17-year-old kid from Dallas, Texas. 

The duel was nail-biting. Scottie Scheffler charged from behind to catch up with Riley. And then Riley called a rules infraction on himself after he moved the ball while addressing the ball on the 16th. He was docked one shot. Scheffler won 3&2 in the 36-hole final round. 

Ten years later, Scheffler and Riley once again locked horns at the Colonial. They were paired together on Sunday, but this time, Davis Riley got the better of the reigning Masters champion. By five strokes. Now Davis Riley seeks another redemption in his home state.