John Davis, a 2019 inductee into the Arizona Golf Corridor of Fame and sports activities journalist for almost 36 years, died early Monday after a protracted battle with most cancers.
Davis, 73, was a fixture on the Arizona golf scene for greater than 20 years and witnessed firsthand the rise of the Phoenix Open. Phil Mickelson, a local of San Diego however a hero for Arizona State, grew to become the face of the occasion, spearheading its huge progress into one of many world’s most extremely attended sporting occasions.
And Davis was proper there alongside for the experience. Over time, author and golfer solid a friendship. A typical routine after a match spherical consisted of Mickelson signing autographs for 20 or half-hour, placing pen to paper for anybody and everybody who wished one at TPC Scottsdale. It wasn’t an unusual sight to see him and Davis later engaged in small speak, sharing a smile or two, catching up like two longtime mates.
Davis finally stopped protecting the tournaments, retiring in 2019, however he clearly missed the motion. With many mates within the golf world, he might simply rating a credential and would usually swing by the media middle to say, ‘Hello,’ to everybody.
On the Charles Schwab Cup in 2021, the primary time Mickelson was eligible for the PGA Tour Champions occasion, the 2 caught up as soon as once more at Phoenix Nation Membership, with Davis nicely into the throes of his most cancers battle. The day earlier than the match began, as Mickelson took questions within the media scrum, Davis stood off to the aspect and waited, his face protecting an indication he was taking precautions about his well being however wasn’t going to sit down round the home all day.
When Lefty was executed, he turned and noticed Davis and the 2 spent the subsequent 20 minutes catching up, Mickelson telling him to hold in there and maintain combating.
“John waged a battle over a number of years with most cancers, and his mates had been amazed at how a lot he endured and what number of occasions he bounced again from devastating information,” stated Bob Younger, the Republic’s long-time Suns reporter and colleague of Davis. “However we knew he was a tricky man. He survived a stroke by dragging himself over a span of two hours throughout his lounge to succeed in a telephone, which he dragged off of a desk to name 9-1-1.
“And after I was protecting the Suns beat, I got here into the press work room to search out John typing together with his proper hand on his laptop computer whereas holding his left hand within the air. I requested him what was up and he stated a scorpion had stung him whereas he was doing yard work. He stated holding his hand up helped with the throbbing ache. I steered perhaps he ought to go dwelling and he stated it will nonetheless be throbbing whether or not he was at dwelling or work. He stayed and filed a sidebar and notes that evening.”
Davis later had a coronary heart bypass subject however continued to battle on, by no means complaining.
“In the course of the canine days of summer season, when not a lot was occurring within the sports activities world, 4 sportswriters — John, Bob Younger, Dale Hajek and I — would slip out of the workplace early and play a fast spherical at Encanto,” recalled Kent Somers, who stated he and Davis competed for a time on their beats, Somers on the Republic and Davis on the previous Phoenix Gazette. The 2 papers merged in 1997, bringing Davis to the Republic. “Effectively, to me, it was a fast spherical. To John, who was a stable participant, it most likely didn’t appear so fast. He by no means, ever complained about {golfing} with a hack like me.”
Davis moved to Phoenix within the mid-80s, nicely earlier than the inhabitants exploded and town had only one professional workforce, the Suns.
“I discovered an image, his grandma took an image of him leaving in a U-Haul truck in August 1986,” stated Kim Ewing, Davis’ niece, who stated he began working for the Phoenix Gazette upon his arrival.
“He was sensible, witty and humble, and labored tirelessly at WM Phoenix Opens, Masters, U.S. Opens, state amateurs — wherever he was assigned — to convey essentially the most entertaining and correct tales he presumably might to his readers,” stated Invoice Huffman, who proceeded Davis on the golf beat on the Republic. “And John at all times delivered, which is why he earned his spot within the Arizona Golf Corridor of Fame.”
As luck would have it, a few years later — and maybe as karma for all his goodwill — Davis was among the many fortunate media members to have his identify drawn to play Augusta Nationwide on the Monday after the Masters Event, a long-standing custom.
Davis wore many hats throughout his journalism profession. Many occasions it was that of mentor.
“JD began out as one of many requirements for me within the enterprise and wound up changing into an expensive pal who remained inspirationally constructive by means of his well being points,” stated Paul Coro, who got here to the Republic as a younger reporter within the 1997. “As a mentor, he at all times had been encouraging and complimentary however made me really feel extra like a colleague by sharing tales and laughs. The best way he labored earned the respect of professionals, whether or not it was going method again with Dan Majerle, connecting shortly with Charles Barkley or having Phil Mickelson seemingly at all times choose up his calls. For a man who was nice with phrases, those I’ll treasure most had been his form ones about my ladies as they grew up.”
Whereas Davis spent appreciable time protecting the professional sport, he at all times made an effort to be there at beginner occasions as nicely.
“He was an All-Star,” stated Ed Gowan, who was government director of the Arizona Golf Affiliation for 37 years, retiring in 2022. “So as to get nationwide recognition typically it’s important to name consideration to your self and he by no means did that. He was by no means after the roses. It was all concerning the topic.”
Born in Adrian, Michigan, on Feb. 23, 1950, Davis was drafted by the Military throughout Vietnam and was enlisted for 2 years. Years later, he bought a second dwelling in Traverse Metropolis, Michigan, and escaped the Phoenix warmth in his later years to benefit from the midwestern summers at his cabin. Associates say he spoke lots about his place there in current weeks, hoping to go to one final time.
“Final week he was telling me how badly he wished to return there for one more summer season,” Somers stated. “It wasn’t to be, however, man, did he dwell a life.”
Pat Williams, Massive Chief of The Thunderbirds, who stage the Phoenix Open yearly stated: “We’re saddened to listen to of the passing of legendary golf author John Davis. John lined the Phoenix Open, golf in Arizona for 4 many years, was a terrific pal of the match, and actually to your complete Thunderbird group. Even after retiring, John would proceed to come back out to benefit from the Open and do what he liked, chatting it up with gamers, Thunderbirds, media, and actually simply anybody who wished to speak about golf. John was a one-of-a-kind, he’ll actually be missed.”
