Mississippi golf fans had plenty to cheer for this past weekend as Davis Riley, a proud native of Hattiesburg, delivered the best performance of his professional career at the 2025 PGA Championship, held at the historic Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC. Riley finished tied for second place at 6-under par, cementing his arrival on the major championship stage and drawing national attention. While Scottie Scheffler took home his third major title at 11-under, the story of the weekend for many was Riley’s determined, resilient march up the leaderboard.
Riley, who played his high school golf at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg before becoming a star at the University of Alabama, has long been touted as one of Mississippi’s top golf prospects. On Sunday, he lived up to every bit of that promise.
His four-round totals of 68-70-68-72 placed him in a tie for second with Bryson DeChambeau and Harris English, a finish that earns him exemptions into next year’s Masters, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship.
Riley began Sunday’s final round just three shots off the lead, in one of the final pairings. The Alabama alum got off to a steady start but found disaster on the par-5 7th, where a wayward drive and a misplayed recovery led to a triple bogey—a moment that could’ve ended his hopes.
But instead of folding, Riley responded like a veteran. He birdied the par-4 8th, rolled in another on the 10th, and stuck a brilliant chip-in birdie on the par-4 17th, which vaulted him back into solo second momentarily.
Riley has already tasted PGA Tour success, most notably winning the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge in Forth Worth and the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. As well as notching several top-10 finishes earlier this season. But his near-miss at Quail Hollow signals a major leap in confidence and career trajectory.
His game—built around a steady driver, confident iron play, and underrated putting—held up beautifully against one of the toughest tests in major golf. While many faltered on the narrow fairways and lightning-quick greens, Riley looked like he belonged all week.
With the national broadcast frequently mentioning his Mississippi roots, Riley’s run brought pride to the Magnolia State golf community, which has seen an increasing number of homegrown talents reach the PGA Tour in recent years.
Riley will now look to carry his momentum into the defense of his title at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth next week, where he’ll return as one of the tournament favorites. He’s also now fully exempt into this summer’s U.S. Open at Oakmont—a course tailor-made for his all-around game.
With a new career-high finish in a major, a poised presence under pressure, and a growing fanbase, Davis Riley is no longer just a promising young pro—he’s a legitimate contender anytime he tees it up.
About The Author
