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DEL.ICIO.USLove can’t find magic this time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Mamaroneck, N.Y. — There were proceedings taking place that disputed the popular media projection that this U.S. Open is somewhat more than two-man match play between Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. And that the mourning for Woods’ father had run overtime. There were 154 other players in the field at Winged Foot Golf Club, all with grief of their own and personal agendas, among them Davis Love III, who has known what it is to win a tournament on these classic grounds in Westchester County, more than your average county, but a commonwealth of some of America’s most elegant estates.
This has not been the kind of year that Love would press, like a rose, between the pages of his diary. On the PGA Tour, his best finish has been a tie for 12th in the Ford Championship at Doral. There was the redeeming feature of reaching the final of the World Match Play Championship, reaping a reward of $750,000. Otherwise, his take-home loot is just over a half-million bucks.
The day at Winged Foot began bogey-double bogey, a front nine 4-over par, two more bogeys and another double bogey on the back nine, and a round of 76. This was not Davis Love golf. So much more is expected of him, another major championship to go with his PGA title, won on this same course in 1997. He has reached the critical point in which he needs to start picking up shots rather than giving them away.
“I got it back to 1-over par on the front nine with two birdies, but then hit one bad shot, and that led to another.” Triple bogey at the 9th, and 39 at the turn. Par on this course, designed by A.W. Tillinghast, considered the equal of Donald Ross in his time, is 35 per side.
“Give me three swings over per round, my dad used to say, and I’ll win the tournament,” Love said. “Well, I could have used those three swings today.”
Love is not one to give into depression. Any suggestions that “this must be tearing at your innards” simply gets waved off. “No, it’s not Davis Love golf, but I keep a positive outlook. It’s a pretty simple tournament: You hit the ball in the fairway, you hit the green, and you putt. But I’m not doing that.”
Love, too, has lost his father, in a sudden and most shocking tragedy. A private plane crashed, taking the lives of Love Jr. and two associated professionals. Quite a bit was made of him, the son of a PGA professional, winning the PGA Championship on this course in 1997, a scene eerily decorated by a sudden rainbow that graced the scene at the 18th green.
As his threesome, including Justin Leonard, who was with Love in the final pairing in 1997, approached the 18th tee, the wind freshened a bit at their backs. Love’s approach was a striking shot that came to rest about five feet below the pin. He made the putt and, as they say, there’s nothing like a good finish to bring you back tomorrow.
“Did any of those thoughts of the PGA Championship run through your mind on that hole?” he was asked.
“It’s always nice to come back to where you’ve played well,” he said. He would have none of that. “I’m not that sentimental about something like that. Memories ain’t gonna do it. You need to get back to what you were doing right.”
Besides, he concluded, it’s not the same course. “It’s playing harder than it did then.” And so we drew the curtain on another day in which the pursuit of former excellence continued.
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Comments
By PGA Bob
June 16, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this
It’s pretty obvious from the lack of commentary that even GA natives are sick of Davis Love. Davis is a classic underperformer that thinks his stuff doesn’t stink. He should spend more time trying to figure out his horrific putting than trying to avoid the “throng” of fans chasing him for an autograph. “Throng” should be defined here as no less than one and no more than 3. Davis was in Mickelson’s shoes before he won the PGA. After winning at Winged Foot, Davis began his disappearing act. After winning the Masters, Phil propelled himself to 2 more Major wins. Davis had the potential to be a great player but will be forever lumped with the hundreds of above average golfers that spent years on the PGA Tour. Don’t you hate the word “potential”- Davis?
By Scratch Casey
June 16, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this
PGA Bob, As a Georgia native, you could not be further from the truth. Georgians love & respect DLIII for the way he carries himself. Simply winning a major, as he has done, puts him among the elite that has ever played the game.