Humble, Texas — Since 1991, Davis Love III has been as much a part of the Masters as the green plastic wrappers that seal Augusta National's famed pimento-cheese sandwiches.

Barring some sort of record score at the Shell Houston Open — and a corresponding collapse by the leaders — Love will miss his first Masters since he was 27. Former President George H.W. Bush, who was at the Redstone Golf Club on Saturday to show Love some love, was in the White House the last time Love failed to qualify for the Masters. It will be the first time in 70 major championships that Love won't be in the field.

Now he can admit it: Love hurts.

"It's difficult. It's no fun," Love said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself, and it didn't work out."

Love was hoping to repeat history from 1995, when he won the PGA Tour event in New Orleans the Sunday before the Masters began. Once qualified, Love nearly won it all, finishing second to Ben Crenshaw. Over the past 13 years, Love has finished second there twice and among the top 10 on six occasions.

"It's been in the back of my mind, the front of my mind, the side of my mind," Love said. "I was being a little bit anxious, maybe trying a too hard. I'd have a bad drive here, a bad miss there. I hit two in the water today."

Love shot a 69 on Saturday, leaving him tied for 25th at 6-under 210. He trails third-round leader Johnson Wagner by nine strokes.

Wagner, who has never competed in the Masters, shot a 69 and is one stroke better than Chad Campbell, the two-time Ryder Cup team member, who shot 65 and is at 14 under. Bob Estes and Charley Hoffman are tied for third at 12 under. All four must win to earn a spot at Augusta National.

"It's hard not to think about it," said Wagner, who has held a share of the lead since the first round. "If I were to win here, then obviously that would be just an incredible bonus."

Love is fortunate to even be playing. He was able to return from October ankle surgery sooner than doctors expected. He's playing in his seventh event of the season; doctors thought he would be making his fourth start.

With it almost mathematically impossible to get improve his World Golf Ranking enough to qualify for the Masters, Love knew his only avenue was through a victory. He has played often — this is his fifth tournament in six weeks — to give himself a chance. Love has never tried to hide his affection for the Masters, a tournament in which his late father played twice.

"I can think of six or eight shots that I've thrown away because I was trying too hard," he said

Love said he plans to go turkey hunting next week to get his mind off the Masters. He'll likely watch some of the tournament on television, but said, "When I didn't make the Ryder Cup team or the Presidents Cup team, I didn't watch that much. It hurt too bad."