Karis Davidson Bio
Karis Davidson (born 7 July 1998) is an Australian professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. Born in Melrose, Scotland, she moved to Australia’s Gold Coast, Queensland, as a child and has built her career across Japan and the United States. In 2022, she secured her first professional title at the WPGA Melbourne International and earned her full LPGA Tour card.
Early Life and Background
Karis Davidson was born on 7 July 1998 in Melrose, Scotland. She first picked up a golf club at the age of four, beginning what would become a lifelong dedication to the sport. At the age of nine, she relocated with her family to Australia’s Gold Coast, Queensland, where she continued to develop her game in a region well known for producing top-level golfers.
Growing up on the Gold Coast, Davidson trained within a strong Australian junior golf pipeline that has produced several leading tour players. Her early move to a warmer climate and year-round playing environment helped her build a competitive foundation. This early grounding in Australian amateur circles prepared her for the international stage.
Path to Professional Golf
Davidson’s amateur career included several notable results on the national and international circuits. In 2014, she won the Sunshine Coast Ladies Open and the GNGF Junior Masters, finished runner-up at the Australian Girls’ Amateur, and lost the final of the Australian Women’s Amateur to Minjee Lee. In 2015, she captured the New South Wales Junior State Championship, and in 2016 she added the Bowra and O’Dea Women’s 72 Hole Classic, the Dunes Medal, and the Australian Girls’ Amateur to her résumé.
On the international stage, Davidson represented Australia at the 2014 World Junior Girls Championship in Canada, the 2016 Espirito Santo Trophy in Mexico, and the Queen Sirikit Cup in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, she reached the semifinals of the Australian Women’s Amateur and won the Riversdale Cup, while also being awarded the prestigious Karrie Webb Scholarship. That same year, she turned professional, beginning a career that has taken her to Japan and the United States.
Karis Davidson Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
After turning professional in 2017, Davidson joined the LPGA of Japan Tour in 2018, having finished 11th at the JLPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. She spent four seasons competing in Japan, building a steady record with career earnings of $444,839. Her career-best finish in Japan came with a tie for fourth at the 2018 Century21 Ladies Golf Tournament, won by Kristen Gillman.
Alongside her time in Japan, Davidson played events on the ALPG Tour in Australia. In 2018, she finished solo second behind Minjee Lee at the Women’s Victorian Open, a Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned event. She later added a tie for third at the 2021 TPS Victoria, demonstrating consistency across tours during the early phase of her professional career.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2022)
Davidson earned her LPGA Tour card for the 2022 season by finishing tied for 41st at LPGA Q-Series. Her rookie year on tour saw her make eight cuts in 11 starts, with a best finish of tied for eighth at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. That debut season confirmed her readiness to compete week in and week out on the world’s premier women’s tour.
Earlier in 2022, Davidson secured her first professional title at the WPGA Melbourne International, a breakthrough win on home soil. A few weeks later, she finished runner-up at the Women’s Victorian Open, this time behind Hannah Green. These results marked her arrival as a contender in both Australian and LPGA Tour events.
Continuing Tour Presence (2023–Present)
After her rookie campaign, Davidson returned to Q-School to retain her LPGA Tour status, a common path for players establishing themselves in their first seasons. She has continued to balance commitments between the LPGA Tour and the ALPG Tour, with her ALPG résumé including one professional victory. Her schedule reflects the dual-tour approach common among Australian players seeking ranking points and competitive reps.
Notable Events and Milestones
Davidson’s first professional victory at the 2022 WPGA Melbourne International stands as a signature result, marking the moment she converted her amateur form into a professional title. Her runner-up finish at the 2018 Women’s Victorian Open, behind fellow Australian Minjee Lee, highlighted her readiness for the professional game. Receiving the Karrie Webb Scholarship in 2017 remains one of the most significant honors of her amateur career.
Karis Davidson Career Wins
Karis Davidson has recorded one ALPG Tour professional victory and has added multiple top finishes across the LPGA Tour, JLPGA Tour, and Ladies European Tour. Her wins collection reflects steady progression through the amateur ranks, into the JLPGA, and onto the LPGA Tour.
ALPG Tour Highlights
Davidson’s lone ALPG Tour professional win came at the 2022 WPGA Melbourne International, her first title as a professional. She has also posted runner-up finishes at the Women’s Victorian Open in both 2018 and 2022, with the 2022 result coming just weeks after her breakthrough win in Melbourne. These performances have established her as a reliable contender in her home country’s biggest events.
Other Wins and Performances
During her amateur career, Davidson won the 2014 Sunshine Coast Ladies Open, the 2014 GNGF Junior Masters, the 2015 New South Wales Junior State Championship, the 2016 Bowra and O’Dea Women’s 72 Hole Classic, the 2016 Dunes Medal, the 2016 Australian Girls’ Amateur, and the 2017 Riversdale Cup. On the international stage, she represented Australia in team events at the 2014 World Junior Girls Championship, the 2016 Espirito Santo Trophy, and the Queen Sirikit Cup in 2016 and 2017.
Karis Davidson Family
Personal Life
Karis Davidson resides on the Gold Coast, Queensland, the city she moved to with her family as a child. Limited public information is available about her personal relationships, and she keeps much of her private life away from the spotlight. Her family supported the relocation from Scotland that set the stage for her golfing development in Australia.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Karis Davidson continues her work on the LPGA Tour, balancing a global schedule with selected ALPG Tour appearances in Australia. As an established tour member with multiple seasons of experience, she is positioned to push for higher finishes after learning the rhythm of a full LPGA calendar. Her previous best of tied for eighth at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational provides a benchmark she will look to surpass.
Davidson’s mix of JLPGA Tour experience and home-soil comfort in Australian events gives her flexibility in scheduling and course familiarity. With the WPGA Melbourne International already on her résumé, she has shown the ability to win on Australian sand, a confidence-builder for any return to ALPG events. Continued steady play through the middle of the season will be key to her playoff positioning.