Who's who: Davis Love III

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Davis Love III

  • Name:

    Davis Milton Love III
  • Country:

    USA
  • Born:

    April 13, 1964 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer, course designer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1985
  • Website:

    https://www.lovegolf-design.com

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): US PGA Ch'ship (1997). Walker Cup player (1985). Ryder Cup player (1993, '95, '97, '99, '02, '04). Ryder Cup captain (2012, '16). Presidents Cup player (1994, '96, '98, 2000, '03, '05). Multiple wins on the PGA Tour (21) and one on the Japan Tour. World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2017).

Golf course design

Love Golf Design have been responsible for designing and building several top-quality courses, which include, but are not limited to: Ocean Creek, Fripp Island (SC); Barefoot, Love course (SC); Eagle's Pointe (SC); River Hall (FL); Kinderlou Forest (Georgia); Shell Landing (Mississippi); Diamante, Dunes course (Mexico).

Did you know?

Davis Love III, the son of golf professional and tour player Davis M. Love, attended the University of North Carolina before turning professional in 1985. After earning his PGA Tour card in the autumn of 1985, he quickly established himself on the PGA Tour. He has since won 21 PGA Tour titles, including five Heritage Classics at Harbor Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island. With his win at the 2015 Wyndham Championship, Love became the third-oldest winner in PGA Tour history.

A veteran of six Ryder Cups as a player, Love became just the eighth golfer to serve twice as the USA Ryder Cup Captain; although losing in Medinah in 2012, he led his team to victory at Hazeltine in 2016. In addition to playing on the PGA Tour, Love is also the founder of a successful golf course design company.

Top tournaments won by Davis Love III

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

118 (-26)

Prize money

$200,000

Title sponsor

PNC

Played as the PNC Father/Son Challenge (Dec 15/16; post-season 36-hole scramble event). Second-placed Retief & Leo Goosen (RSA), Stewart & Connor Cink (USA) and John Daly & John "LJ" Daly Jr (USA) finished 3 shots behind Davis Love III & Davis "Dru" Love IV (USA), who recorded a tournament record 26-under-par 118. [Ritz-Carlton GC, Grande Lakes, Orlando, FL].

2015
America
263 (-17)
$972,000
Wyndham

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

263 (-17)

Prize money

$972,000

Title sponsor

Wyndham

Played as the Wyndham Championship (Aug 20-23). Second-placed Jason Gore (USA) finished 1 shot behind Love III (USA). At 51 years 4 months, Love became the third oldest winner in PGA Tour history, behind Sam Snead (52 yrs 10 mths) and Art Wall Jr (51 yrs 7 mths). [Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, NC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

121 (-23)

Prize money

$200,000

Title sponsor

PNC

Played as the PNC Father/Son Challenge (Dec 15/16; post-season 36-hole scramble event; last played in 2008). Second-placed and defending champions Larry & Drew Nelson (USA) finished 1 shot behind Davis Love III & Davis "Dru" Love IV (USA). [Ritz-Carlton GC, Grande Lakes, Orlando, FL].

2008
America
263 (-25)
$828,000
CMN/Wal-Mart

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

263 (-25)

Prize money

$828,000

Title sponsor

CMN/Wal-Mart

Played as the Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart (Nov 6-9). Second-placed Tommy Gainey (USA) finished 1 shot behind Davis Love III (USA), who clinched his 20th PGA Tour title and a lifetime qualification exemption. [Magnolia course, Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL. Earlier rounds also played on the Palm course].

2006
America
Forest Oaks CC
272 (-16)
$900,000
Chrysler

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Venue

Forest Oaks CC

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

$900,000

Title sponsor

Chrysler

Played as the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro (Oct 5-8). Second-placed Jason Bohn (USA) finished 2 shots behind home-state winner Love (USA). Love claimed his first PGA Tour win in three years, on a course he helped redesign in 2003. [Forest Oaks CC, Greensboro, NC].

2003
America
277 (-11)
$1,200,000
Target / Williams

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

$1,200,000

Title sponsor

Target / Williams

Played as the Target World Challenge presented by Williams (Dec 11-14; unofficial PGA Tour money event, hosted by Tiger Woods). Second-placed Tiger Woods (USA) finished 2 shots behind Davis Love III (USA), who won this event for the second time. [Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, nr LA, Calif.].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

$1,170,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The Players Championship (March 27-30). Second-placed Jay Haas (USA) and Padriag Harrington (Ire) finished 6 shots behind Love (USA). [Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL].

2003
America
274 (-14)
$900,000
AT&T

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

$900,000

Title sponsor

AT&T

Played as the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Feb 6-9). Second-placed Tom Lehman (USA) finished 1 shot behind Love III (USA), who won this event for the second time. Love's final round included consecutive birdie-3s at the tough 8th, 9th and 10th holes. [Pebble Beach Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Poppy Hills GC and Spyglass Hill GC].

2003
America
271 (-13)
$810,000
MCI

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

$810,000

Title sponsor

MCI

Played as the MCI Heritage (April 17-20). Love (USA) beat Woody Austin (USA) with a birdie at the fourth playoff hole, to record the last of his five wins in this event. [Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

45 pts

Prize money

$900,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The International (Aug 7-10; modified stableford format). Second-placed Vijay Singh (Fiji) and Retief Goosen (RSA) finished 12 points behind Love (USA), who recorded his fourth PGA Tour win of 2003. [Castle Pines GC, Castle Rock, nr Denver, Colorado].

2001
America
272 (-16)
$720,000
AT&T

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

$720,000

Title sponsor

AT&T

Played as the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Feb 1-4). Second-placed Vijay Singh (Fiji) finished 1 shot behind Love III (USA). [Pebble Beach Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Poppy Hills GC and Spyglass Hill GC].

2000
America
266 (-22)
$1,000,000
Williams

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

266 (-22)

Prize money

$1,000,000

Title sponsor

Williams

Played as the Williams World Challenge (Nov 30-Dec 3; unofficial PGA Tour money event, hosted by Tiger Woods). Second-placed Tiger Woods (USA) finished 2 shots behind Davis Love III (USA). [Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, nr LA, Calif.].

1998
Japan
269 (-11)
¥21million
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

269 (-11)

Prize money

¥21million

Title sponsor

x

Played as The Crowns - International Invitation Golf (Apr 30-May 3; Japan Tr event; aka the Chunichi Crowns). Second-placed Brian Watts (Can/USA), Rick Gibson (Can) and Masanobu Kimura (Jpn) finished 8 shots behind Love (USA). [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].

1998
America
266 (-18)
$342,000
MCI

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

$342,000

Title sponsor

MCI

Played as the MCI Classic (April 16-19). Second-placed Glen Day (USA) finished 7 shots behind Love (USA), who recorded the fourth of his five wins in this event. [Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC].

1997
America
268 (-16)
$216,000
Lincoln-Mercury

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

$216,000

Title sponsor

Lincoln-Mercury

Played as the (last) Lincoln-Mercury Kapalua International (Nov 6-9; unofficial post-season PGA Tour event; 55-player field). Second-placed David Toms (USA) finished 3 shots behind Love (USA). [Plantation Course, Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii].

1997
America
267 (-21)
$216,000
Buick

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

$216,000

Title sponsor

Buick

Played as the Buick Challenge (Oct 2-5). Second-placed Stewart Cink (USA) finished 4 shots behind David Love III (USA). [Mountain View course, Callaway Gdns Resort, Pine Mtn, GA].

1997
Majors
269 (-11)
$470,000
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

269 (-11)

Prize money

$470,000

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (79th) (Aug 14-17). Second-placed Justin Leonard (USA) finished 5 shots behind first-time major championship winner Love (USA). [West course, Winged Foot GC, Mamaroneck, NY].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

269 (-19)

Prize money

$216,000

Title sponsor

Buick

Played as the Buick Invitational (Feb 8-11). Second-placed Phil Mickelson (USA) finished 2 shots behind Love (USA), who recorded his tenth PGA Tour win. [South course, Torrey Pines, La Jolla, CA].

1995
America
274 (-14)
$216,000
Freeport-McDermott

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

$216,000

Title sponsor

Freeport-McDermott

Played as the Freeport-McMoRan Classic (Mar 30-Apr 2). David Love III (USA) beat Mike Heinen (USA) with a birdie at the second playoff hole. [English Turn G&CC, New Orleans, LA].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

$100,000

Title sponsor

Heineken

Davis Love III (USA) beat Hisayuki Sasaki (Jpn) in a playoff to win the International Trophy for best individual score in the World Cup of Golf. Team winners of the Cup: Fred Couples & Davis Love III (USA). [World Cup course, Mission Hills Shenzhen, China].

1995
America
257 (-27)
$162,500
JCPenney

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

257 (-27)

Prize money

$162,500

Title sponsor

JCPenney

Played as the JCPenney Classic (Nov 30-Dec 3; two-person team event; one PGA Tr, one LPGA Tr). Davis Love III (USA) & Beth Daniel (USA) won their second JCPenney Classic with a tournament record 27-under 257. Second-place: Robert Gamez (USA) & Helen Alfredsson (Swe). [Copperhead course, Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, nr Tampa, FL].

1993
America
272 (-16)
$144,000
Infiniti

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

$144,000

Title sponsor

Infiniti

Played as the Infiniti Tournament of Champions (Jan 7-10; PGA Tour season opener). Second-placed Tom Kite (USA) finished 1 shot behind Love III (USA). [North course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif. Now known as Champions course].

1993
America
331 (-29)
$252,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

331 (-29)

Prize money

$252,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Las Vegas Invitational (Oct 20-24). Second-placed Craig Stadler (USA) finished 2 shots behind Love (USA). [TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV. Earlier rounds also at: Las Vegas CC and Desert Inn CC (now Wynn G&CC)].

1992
America
269 (-15)
$180,000
MCI

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

MCI

Played as the MCI Heritage Classic (April 16-19). Second-placed Chip Beck (USA) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Love (USA), who recorded the third of his five wins in this event. [Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC].

1992
America
Forest Oaks CC
272 (-16)
$225,000
Kmart

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Venue

Forest Oaks CC

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

$225,000

Title sponsor

Kmart

Played as the Kmart Greater Greensboro Open (April 23-26). Second-placed John Cook (USA) finished 6 shots behind home-state winner Love (USA), who recorded back-to-back PGA Tour wins. [Forest Oaks CC, Greensboro, NC].

1992
America
191 (-25)
$150,000
Franklin Funds

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

191 (-25)

Prize money

$150,000

Title sponsor

Franklin Funds

Played as the Franklin Funds Shark Shootout (Nov 13-15; played over three rounds: 1-alternate shot; 2-better ball; 3-scramble). Second-placed team of Fred Couples (USA) & Ray Floyd (USA) finished 1 shot behind the winning team of Tom Kite (USA) & Davis Love III (USA). [Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, nr LA, Calif.].

1992
America
275 (-15)
$150,000
Lincoln-Mercury

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

275 (-15)

Prize money

$150,000

Title sponsor

Lincoln-Mercury

Played as the Lincoln Mercury Kapalua International (Nov 19-22; PGA Tour post-season unofficial money event). Second-placed and defending champion Mike Hulbert (USA) finished 1 shot behind Love (USA), who eagled the final hole (par-5 18th) to secure the win. [Plantation course, Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii; Bay course also used for earlier rounds].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

$324,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The Players Championship (March 26-29). Second-placed Ian Baker-Finch (Aus), Phil Blackmar (USA), Nick Faldo (Eng) and Tom Watson (USA) finished 4 shots behind Love III (USA). [Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL].

1991
America
271 (-13)
$180,000
MCI

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

MCI

Played as the MCI Heritage Classic (April 18-21). Second-placed Ian Baker-Finch (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Love (USA), who recorded the second of his five wins in this event. [Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

14 pts

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The International (Aug 16-19; modified stableford format). Second-placed Peter Senior (Aus), Eduardo Romero (Arg) and Steve Pate (USA) finished 3 points behind Love (USA). [Castle Pines GC, Castle Rock, nr Denver, Colorado].

1990
America
266 (-18)
$100,000
JCPenney

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

$100,000

Title sponsor

JCPenney

Played as the JCPenney Classic (Nov 29-Dec 2; two-person team event; one PGA Tr, one LPGA Tr). Second placed Jay Haas (USA) & Nancy Lopez (USA) finished 5 shots behind the winning team of Davis Love III (USA) & Beth Daniel (USA). [Copperhead course, Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, nr Tampa, FL].

1987
America
271 (-13)
$117,000
MCI

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Love, Davis III

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

$117,000

Title sponsor

MCI

Played as the MCI Heritage Classic (April 16-19). Second-placed Steve Jones (USA) finished 1 shot behind first-time PGA Tour winner Love (USA), who recorded the first of his five wins in this event. [Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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