Davis Riley Bio
Davis Riley (born December 17, 1996) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he rose to national attention as a teenager through an exceptional junior career before attending the University of Alabama. After turning professional in 2019, he advanced through the Korn Ferry Tour and has since become a multiple winner on the PGA Tour, highlighted by team and individual titles in prominent events.
Early Life and Background
Davis Riley was born on December 17, 1996, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He grew up in his hometown and attended Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, where he quickly established himself as one of the most talented young golfers in the state. He won the Mississippi state high school title four consecutive years, a streak that set the foundation for a decorated amateur résumé.
As a teenager, Riley became a familiar name in American junior golf. In 2015, he was named the All-USA Boys Golf Player of the Year by USA Today, recognizing his sustained excellence against top national competition. He made the final of the U.S. Junior Amateur in back-to-back years, joining Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth as the only players to reach the championship match twice. In 2013, he lost the final to Scottie Scheffler, 3 and 2, after calling a penalty on himself on the last hole. He also represented the United States at the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup in Perthshire, Scotland, where the American team defeated Europe 16–8.
Path to Professional Golf
Riley enrolled at the University of Alabama in 2015 and quickly contributed to the Crimson Tide golf program. He was named Second Team All-SEC as a sophomore and entered his junior year ranked as the top collegiate player in the country. In 2018, he played in the Palmer Cup, posting a 2–2 record as part of the American team that defeated the International side.
Following his strong amateur and college career, Riley turned professional in 2019. He joined the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020, where he wasted little time making his mark. He captured his first professional victory at the Panama Championship in February, then 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.
Davis Riley Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Riley began his professional career in 2019 and joined the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020. His transition to the developmental circuit was immediate and successful, as he posted two wins in his first season. During this period, he shared accommodations with Will Zalatoris, a fellow elite amateur whom Riley had faced in the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur final.
Finishing inside the top ten on the Korn Ferry Tour points list earned Riley a PGA Tour card, paving the way for full membership on the premier U.S. circuit. His early professional years were defined by steady progress, strong ball-striking, and a growing comfort in high-pressure finishes.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2022–2023)
In March 2022, Riley took a two-shot lead into the final round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook. He was eventually caught by Sam Burns and lost on the second playoff hole, falling to 0–1 in PGA Tour playoffs. The following week, he partnered with Zalatoris to finish fourth at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, then posted a fifth-place finish at the Mexico Open, signaling his growing comfort on Tour.
Riley’s first PGA Tour title came in April 2023, when he partnered with Nick Hardy to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The pair set a tournament scoring record of 30 under par, an emphatic team victory that announced Riley as a PGA Tour winner. Earlier in his career, he had qualified for the U.S. Open three times, missing the cut in 2015 and 2020 before finishing tied for 31st in 2023.
Charles Schwab Challenge Era (2024–Present)
In May 2024, Riley captured his first individual PGA Tour title at the Charles Schwab Challenge, winning by five strokes at Colonial Country Club. The dominant performance cemented his place among the Tour’s rising competitors and provided his first solo victory at the highest level.
The following May, Riley 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 seventh hole briefly knocked him out of contention, but he responded with three birdies and no bogeys to finish tied for second, his best result in a major championship. He then returned to the Charles Schwab Challenge to defend his title, continuing his strong play in the early portion of the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Riley is regarded as a steady, accurate ball-striker who thrives on classical scoring venues. His length and precision off the tee pair well with shot-making demands at places such as Colonial Country Club, and his comfort in team formats has translated into success in events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his U.S. Junior Amateur runs that placed him alongside Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, his 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans victory with Nick Hardy at a tournament record 30 under par, and his five-stroke win at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge. His runner-up finish at the 2025 PGA Championship stands as his strongest major result to date.
Davis Riley Career Wins
Davis Riley has recorded four professional victories across the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour. His success spans individual and team formats, beginning on the developmental circuit and continuing with breakthrough wins at prominent PGA Tour stops.
PGA Tour Highlights
Riley has won twice on the PGA Tour, with one team title and one individual title. His first PGA Tour win came at the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he partnered with Nick Hardy to set the tournament scoring record at 30 under par. His first individual victory followed in May 2024, when he won the Charles Schwab Challenge by five strokes. He has also recorded a runner-up finish at the 2025 PGA Championship, his best major result.
Korn Ferry Tour Highlights
Riley opened his professional career with two Korn Ferry Tour wins in 2020, taking the Panama Championship in February and the TPC San Antonio Championship in July. Those results helped him finish the combined 2020–21 season ninth on the points list, earning his PGA Tour card.
Davis Riley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Davis Riley grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and has roots in the local community that supported his early development in golf. His formative years at Presbyterian Christian School connected him with coaches and teammates who helped shape his competitive foundation.
Personal Life
Riley has continued to base himself in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the city where he was born and raised. He has maintained close friendships with several peers from his amateur days, including Will Zalatoris, a former roommate on the Korn Ferry Tour.
2025 Season Performance
Riley’s 2025 PGA Tour campaign has been highlighted by his runner-up finish at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club. Entering the final round tied for third and four strokes behind Scottie Scheffler, a triple-bogey 8 at the seventh hole briefly stalled his run, but he closed with three birdies and no bogeys to finish tied for second, his best major championship result.
The strong major showing came shortly before his title defense at the Charles Schwab Challenge, the event he won by five strokes the previous year. Returning to Colonial Country Club with momentum from a major runner-up, Riley looked to build on the form that had defined his 2024 breakthrough.
Heading into the heart of the summer stretch, Riley’s 2025 results have reinforced his standing as a consistent contender on the PGA Tour. With a major runner-up, a successful title defense opportunity, and a Tour card secured through his 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge victory, he entered the latter part of the season with clear goals of contending in the FedExCup Playoffs and adding to his growing list of wins.