Davis Love III

Love started playing golf as soon as he could walk under the tutelage of his father, Davis Love Jr., who was regarded as one of the game's premier teachers and played many PGA Tour events in the 1960s. He was born the day after his father finished T-31st at the 1964 Masters. By the time he was 10, there was no doubt in his mind that he would follow in his father's footsteps and become a professional golfer. He was a three-time All-American at North Carolina and played on the 1985 U.S. Walker Cup Team, turning professional after that and making it through Q-School. He recorded his first victory in 1987 but suffered tragedy in 1988 when his father was killed in a plane crash. He was a consistent winner from 1990 through 2003, when he collected 17 of his 20 PGA Tour wins, highlighted by the PGA Championship in 1997. He is one of nine PGA Championship winners whose father was a PGA of America member. Member of 1993, '95, '97, '99, 2002 and '04 U.S. Ryder Cup teams. He was the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain. He competed in the 1994, '96, '98, 2000, '03, and '05 U.S. Presidents Cup teams. Was the assistant captain of the 2017 Presidents Cup cup. In the past decade, Love has experienced lower-back disc problems, which not only have affected his back but also his neck.
Love turned professional in 1985, earning his PGA Tour card on his first attempt in the autumn of 1985. He quickly established himself on the PGA Tour, winning his first tour event in 1987 at the MCI Heritage Golf Classic at Harbour Town Golf Links. He would later win this event four more times, setting a record for the most victories in the tournament. Love and Fred Couples won four straight times from 1992-95 for the United States in the World Cup of Golf, a record for this event.
Love was a consistent contender and winner on the PGA Tour in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the most memorable win came at the 1997 PGA Championship, his only major championship victory. It was played at Winged Foot Golf Club near New York City, and just four players in the field finished under par for the week. Love's winning score was 11-under-par, five shots better than runner-up Justin Leonard. When Love sank his birdie putt on the final hole of the championship, it was under the arc of a rainbow, which appeared as he walked up to the 18th green. In the telecast, CBS Sports announcer Jim Nantz connected the rainbow and Love's late father, Davis Love Jr., a well-known and beloved figure in the golf world. This victory was the last major championship win achieved with a wooden-headed driver.
In 1994, Love founded Love Golf Design, a golf course architecture company, with his younger brother and caddie, Mark Love. The company has been responsible for the design of several courses throughout the Southeast United States.
In 2008, Love earned his 20th PGA Tour win at the Children's Miracle Network Classic, which gave him a lifetime exemption on the Tour.
2015 Notes: He claimed his 21st career PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship. He returned to action after nearly two months, following surgery on his right foot on April 1, and made a run at his first Champions Tour title at the Principal Charity Classic. On Sunday, three consecutive birdies (Nos. 13-15) moved him into a tie for the lead with eventual champion Mark Calcavecchia. Still, he watched his chances slip away after making a bogey and double bogey at Nos. 16 and 17. Finished T-5th. In his 21st start at the Wyndham Championship, Love opened and closed with rounds of 6-under 64, winning by a shot over Jason Gore. His victory at Sedgefield CC came 23 years after his first Wyndham Championship win at Forest Oaks CC (1992) and nine years after his second (2006). The win was seven years after his most recent Tour victory, at the 2008 Children's Miracle Network Classic. In Sunday's final round, he overcame a bogey at the first hole with a birdie-birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie stretch on Nos. 2-6. He reached the FedExCup Playoffs with the win, playing two of them and finishing 86th in the series. He was again chosen to captain the 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
2016 Notes: Played in 15 events on the PGA Tour, making 11 cuts. His best finish was T-29th at the Hyundai T of C. Played twice on the Champions Tour, best was 3rd at the Mitsubishi Electric in Hawaii. In an injury-plagued season, he had surgery in early July to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. Still was able to carry out his duty as Ryder Cup captain and led the United States team to a 17-11 victory at Hazeltine, marking the first time the U.S. had won since 2008.
2017 Notes: Still playing more on the PGA Tour, was in 13 events making 7 cuts. Best finish T-10th at the Wyndham Championship. Finished 185th in the FedExCup race. He played twice on the PGA Tour Champions and was T-8th teamed with Scott Verplank at the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf. and T-10th at the Pure Insurance Championship. On November 21st had hip replacement surgery
2018 Notes: After a successful rehab on his hip made his competitive start at the Valspar Championship. He played full-time on the regular PGA Tour, and his best finish was T-28th at the CIMB Classic. Love made 12 PGA Tour starts and made 5 cuts Played in four PGA Tour Champions events, best finish was T-10th in the U.S. Senior Open. He reached a milestone at the PGA Championship in St. Louis as he played in his 100th major, his first was the 1986 PGA Championship. He was a vice-captain for Jim Furyk at the Ryder Cup in France. At the end of the year teamed up with his son Dru to win the PNC Father/Son for a second time.
2019 Notes: Played a combination of PGA Tour and Champions Tour events. On the PGA Tour played in 9 events making five cuts with one top-ten. Played in six PGA Tour Champions Tour events, best finish T-32nd Dick's Sporting Goods. He was 7th at the Sony Open in Hawaii, six shots back of champion Matt Kuchar. It was Love's 179th top-ten in 762 official PGA Tour starts. It was his first top-ten since finishing T-10th at the 2017 Wyndham Championship. Love's 264 was one shot above his career-low 72-hole score of 263 at the 2008 Children's Miracle Network Classic and the 2015 Wyndham Championship. At the end of the year, it was announced that he would work as an on-course announcer for CBS.
2020 Notes: Played in 3 Champions Tour events with one top-25 finishes. Played in 10 PGA Tour events making two cuts. Best finish on the Champions Tour, T-19th at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. On the PGA Tour, he has only made two cuts, 66th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T-51st at the Wyndham Championship.
2021 Notes: Played in ten Champions Tour events with a best finish of T-11th at both the Boeing Classic and the Constellation Furyk & Friends. He played in four PGA Tour events missing the cut in all of them. In May underwent surgery on his right hip in Birmingham, Ala. Love had a hip replacement on his left hip in 2017 and has had neck issues. He was able to play again in August at the Boeing Classic.
2022 Notes: Played in 8 PGA Tour Championship events with one top-ten finish. He was T-7th at the Furyk & Freinds. On the PGA Tour only made one cut, 68th at the RSM Classic. He was T-20th at the Rapiscan Systems Classic. Was the captain in the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow, with the USA team winning 17 and a half to 12 and a half.
2023 Notes: Was T-67th at the Hoag Classic and T-34th at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic.