Just a week after his sister's seizure and brain surgery, Davis Riley clinches his first individual PGA Tour victory.
Davis Riley dedicated his victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge to his sister, who is recovering from brain surgery, and to his former colleague Grayson Murray. Riley triumphed over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Keegan Bradley, winning his first individual PGA Tour event by five strokes.
Riley secured the win with a final round of 70, finishing at 14-under-par. A birdie on the 17th hole gave him a decisive lead.
The 27-year-old American reflected on how, just a week before, he was uncertain if he could focus on golf due to his sister Caroline's health crisis. During practice, Riley received a call that Caroline had suffered a seizure at work. Following scans, a brain tumor was discovered, and she underwent surgery to remove it.
“When you have somebody that close to you, all the worst-case scenarios are going through your head,” Riley shared. “It was certainly a scary feeling thinking about how you could lose your sister.” Fortunately, the surgery was successful, and the tumor was found to be non-cancerous, bringing immense relief to Riley and his family.
Initially unsure if he would participate in the Charles Schwab Challenge, Riley was encouraged by his sister to compete. Despite her absence in Texas, Riley's performance honored her, earning him the victory, a tartan jacket, and the trophy.
“I’m just very fortunate and excited that she was in really good hands and everything is in the right direction,” Riley said.
Riley also honored Grayson Murray, who passed away the day after withdrawing from the tournament due to illness. Murray's parents later revealed that he had died by suicide. Riley expressed his condolences, saying, “A super sad day in the golf world, but my heart just goes out to him and his family. There was definitely a little extra to play for today.”
This victory marks Riley's second on the PGA Tour and his first individual title; his first win came with Nick Hardy at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last year. Hardy, along with Riley’s wife Alexandra, congratulated him on the 18th green, noting that Riley’s success had been anticipated for some time. “Davis’ game has clearly been trending to me for a while,” Hardy said. “It’s just fun to see it pay off.”