Davis Riley

Davis Riley Bio

Davis Riley (born December 17, 1996) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he turned professional in 2019 and quickly rose through the Korn Ferry Tour before securing his PGA Tour card. He has already collected four professional victories, including two on the PGA Tour, and earned a runner-up finish at the 2025 PGA Championship, his best result in a major championship to date.

Standing 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) and weighing 175 lb (79 kg), Riley plays out of his hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. As of May 18, 2025, he reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 53. He continues to be recognized as one of the steady American talents of his generation.

Early Life and Background

Davis Riley was born on December 17, 1996, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He grew up in the same community where he still lives today and attended Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg. At the high school level, he won the Mississippi state title four straight years, establishing himself as one of the top teenage amateurs in the country.

In 2015, USA Today named him the All-USA Boys Golf Player of the Year, capping a remarkable junior run that included two appearances in the final of the U.S. Junior Amateur. He joined Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth as the only players to reach the championship match of that event twice. In 2013, he lost the final to Scottie Scheffler, 3 and 2, after calling a penalty on himself on the last hole of the match, a sign of the sportsmanship that has marked his career.

Riley was also a member of the American team at the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup, which defeated Europe 16–8 in Perthshire, Scotland. These formative experiences shaped his competitive foundation before he made the move to collegiate golf.

Path to Professional Golf

Riley enrolled at the University of Alabama in 2015 and quickly emerged as one of the top collegiate players in the country. He was a Second Team All-SEC selection as a sophomore and was ranked as the best collegiate player in the United States entering his junior year. In 2018, he played in the Palmer Cup, posting a 2–2 record in the American team’s victory over the International side.

Following his college career, Riley turned professional in 2019. He joined the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020 and wasted no time making an impact. That February, he earned his first professional victory at the Panama Championship, and he added a second title at the TPC San Antonio Championship in July. He finished the combined 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour season ninth on the points list, securing his PGA Tour card.

During his time on the Korn Ferry Tour, Riley shared a home with Will Zalatoris, who had defeated him in the U.S. Junior Amateur final in 2014. That friendship later carried over to team competition on the PGA Tour.

Davis Riley Career

Early Career (2019–2021)

Riley began his professional journey in 2019 after completing his collegiate career at Alabama. He earned starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020, where the condensed schedule gave him an opportunity to play frequently and post consistent finishes. His two victories that season, the Panama Championship and the TPC San Antonio Championship, marked him as one of the circuit’s top rookies.

By finishing ninth on the combined 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour points list, Riley locked up his PGA Tour card and set the stage for the next phase of his career. His steady ball-striking and calm temperament stood out as he adjusted to the demands of weekly tournament golf.

PGA Tour Breakthrough (2022–2024)

Riley’s first full PGA Tour season produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the year. In March 2022, he took a two-shot lead into the final round of the Valspar Championship before losing to Sam Burns on the second playoff hole. He followed that showing with a fourth-place finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, partnering with Will Zalatoris, and a fifth-place result the next week at the Mexico Open. He also qualified for the U.S. Open that season, finishing tied for 31st.

In April 2023, Riley earned his first PGA Tour title when he and Nick Hardy won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at a tournament-record score of 30-under-par. The team format victory confirmed his ability to perform under pressure. In May 2024, he captured his first individual PGA Tour title at the Charles Schwab Challenge, winning by five strokes and signaling his arrival as a solo competitor at the top level.

Major Championship Run (2025)

The 2025 season marked Riley’s deepest run into major championship contention. A week before defending his title at the Charles Schwab Challenge, he entered the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club tied for third and four strokes behind Scottie Scheffler. A triple-bogey 8 at the 7th hole dropped him to tied-17th, but he recovered with three birdies and no bogeys to finish tied for second, his best major result.

Earlier that year, Riley had also recorded a T21 at the 2025 Masters Tournament, adding another solid major finish to his growing resume.

Driving Style and Strengths

Riley is known for steady ball-striking and a calm, unflappable demeanor on the course. His accuracy off the tee and reliable iron play have made him a consistent contender, while his comfort in team events, highlighted by his Zurich Classic partnership with Nick Hardy, reflects a cooperative approach that translates well into alternate-format play.

Notable Events and Milestones

Signature moments include his 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur appearance, his 2014 Junior Ryder Cup participation, his 2023 Zurich Classic team win with Hardy, and his five-stroke victory at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge. His tied-second finish at the 2025 PGA Championship stands as his strongest major performance.

Davis Riley Career Wins

Davis Riley has compiled four professional victories across two tours, with two wins on the PGA Tour and two on the Korn Ferry Tour. His career trajectory shows steady progression from developmental circuits to top-level competition, capped by major championship contention in 2025.

PGA Tour Highlights

Riley’s PGA Tour wins include the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, captured with partner Nick Hardy at a tournament-record 30-under-par, and the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge, where he won by five strokes for his first individual title. His PGA Tour playoff record stands at 0–1 after the 2022 Valspar Championship loss to Sam Burns.

Korn Ferry Tour Highlights

On the Korn Ferry Tour, Riley won the Panama Championship in February 2020 and the TPC San Antonio Championship in July 2020. Those two victories paved the way for his PGA Tour promotion, as he finished ninth on the combined 2020-21 points list.

Davis Riley Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Public information about Davis Riley’s parents and broader family is limited. He has often spoken about his ties to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the community where he grew up and continues to reside.

Personal Life

Riley maintains his residence in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He is not publicly known to be married, and details about a spouse or children have not been confirmed in available sources.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 PGA Tour season has been a breakthrough year for Davis Riley. He opened major championship play with a T21 at the Masters Tournament in April, an encouraging result that set the tone for the months ahead.

The high point came at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club, where Riley entered the final round tied for third before recovering from a triple-bogey 8 at the 7th hole to finish tied for second, four strokes behind winner Scottie Scheffler. That runner-up finish marked his best major championship result and elevated his profile heading into the summer stretch.

Riley was preparing to defend his Charles Schwab Challenge title in late May 2025, carrying the momentum of his major championship performance into one of his favorite events. With a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 53 reached in May 2025, he entered the heart of the season positioned to pursue further individual success on the PGA Tour.