Lack of practice paying off for veteran Davies

ALL OF Laura Davies' jokes over the years about her disdain of practice has had a more serious effect on her career – four decades of golf, and very few injuries.

Davies arrived at this week's ANZ Australian Ladies Masters after claiming her 73rd worldwide title at the New Zealand Open last Sunday. It was also her 39th title on the Ladies European Tour.

She's also won four majors, including the 1987 US Open, and is close to being considered for the Hall of Fame, needing just one more major or two LPGA wins.

The way she's been playing lately – eight straight sub-par rounds, including a share of sixth place at an LPGA event in Thailand before winning the New Zealand Open – she might not be far away from either category.

"You see so many young players now injured all the time, maybe it has something to do with all the practice," said 46-year-old Davies.

"If you want to play the amount of time I have played – this is my 23rd season – you can't stand on the range all day. You have to be sensible."