Capelle On Golf

2008 Masters Coverage - Thru 4/15

One week before the 1995 Masters Davis Love III had not yet qualified for Augusta. He’d won eight tour events in the previous eight seasons, including the 1993 PLAYERS Championship and, at age 30, the long hitting Love was a rising star. Except for one big problem: he routinely bombed out in the majors having never recorded a single top 10.

At the crossroads of his career Love was desperate. The only ticket to Augusta was to win the Freeport McMoran Classic in New Orleans. Love opened with rounds of 68-69-66 in a solid bid to join the elite field at the Masters. His play staked him a one shot lead over Mike Standly after 54 holes. He also enjoyed a five shot lead over Mike Heinen, but a final round 71 dropped him into a playoff with Heinen, who fired a closing 66. Love managed to steady his ship and won his berth in the Masters with a birdie on the second hole.

A week later Love proved that he’d taken his game to a new level by finishing in second, one back of Ben Crenshaw. Over the next decade Love posted 18 more top tens in the majors, including a convincing five shot win at the 1997 PGA under the rainbow. He’s also notched an additional 10 tour titles and, at age 43, appeared for the first time on the ballot for the Hall of Fame.

Davis Love III star has faded to a glimmer over the last couple of seasons and, at#99, he’s on the verge of exiting the top100 in the WGR. He’s missed the cut in five of his last eight majors and his streak of 70 consecutive appearances in the majors is on the line. Lastly, he’s missed the cut at the PODs and finished 62t at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. To make it to the Masters Love needs a win, possibly a second, or some combination of high finishes in the next two weeks.

Love is a longshot. Still, there’s that chance that this great player might rise up once again and write a fairy tale every bit as memorable as the one that launched his career 13 seasons ago. Go Davis go!!!