By Bob Harig
Special to ESPN Golf Online
Sunday, April 9
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The Masters being a major championship, and Augusta National being such a special place, it's understandable when golfers of every size and shape step onto the grounds and become frozen in their own footsteps.
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| Davis Love III had five birdies before his only miscue at the 16th. |
So much history. So much at stake.
Along with several world-caliber players, that is what Davis Love III must overcome Sunday if he is to win the coveted green jacket. And for him, it will be no easy task.
Georgia is Love's home state, and the tournament has always meant a great deal to him. His late father, Davis Love Jr., tied for 31st in the 1964 Masters the day before Davis Love III was born.
Last year, Love finished second to Jose Maria Olazabal. He was tied for seventh in both 1997 and 1996. In 1995, he finished a single shot behind Ben Crenshaw, his first top-10 finish in a major championship.
"I haven't slept very good this week," he said. "I've gotten literally physically ill a couple times on the golf course because I know I'm playing great and I'm not getting the job done. It's still very, very hard to control your emotions playing out there. I want to win this tournament just like any other major, but I want to win this one very badly."
Love gave himself a chance Saturday, taking advantage of the early-morning conditions, shooting a 4-under 68 that vaulted him from a tie for 39th to a tie for sixth when the weather-delayed third round was postponed by darkness Saturday.
Although he is six shots behind leader Vijay Singh, Love will be resting comfortably Sunday morning while Singh is trying to stay warm and finishing his final four holes of the third round. Just about anything can happen. And one of the scenarios might be a second major championship for Love.
Of course, given his mindset in recent weeks, perhaps that is not possible. The front-row seat to history has not necessarily been a pretty view. We're talking, of course, about Tiger Woods, who also moved into contention with a 68.
Love was there for the first victory, losing in a playoff. He was there for the Tour Championship, finishing runner-up by four strokes. He was there for the Match Play Championship, and got waxed in the semifinals. His latest effort in a head-to-head showdown was won by Woods at the Bay Hill Invitational.
Afterward, Love was widely panned for seemingly giving in to Woods, talking about how tough the young superstar is to beat, appearing to be vulnerable. Love sought to set the record straight.
"No matter what's been said in articles and quotes from other players, nobody out here thinks he's unbeatable," Love said of Woods. "One guy like me might say he's hard to beat when he's the No. 1 player in the world and he's playing well, but nobody's sitting here saying we can't beat him.
"A lot of people have written that and said that we think he can't be beaten; but he played just like a lot of other guys these first two days here."
Indeed, Woods looked rather ordinary until he shot 68 Saturday, which was followed by good fortune: nasty weather. Woods and Love both benefitted, sitting in the comfort of the clubhouse while most of the leaders began tumbling back to them.
Love could only wonder what might have been.
"I promised myself I was going to enjoy it more this year, and I have; but I still haven't played the way I want to play," he said. "I keep leaving three or four shots out there a day, and it just makes you sick to do it. I still feel better with how I'm playing around here, and hopefully I'll put all four rounds together."
Actually, one more good one might do it. And depending on how the third round finishes up, he could get to do it alongside Woods.
"I'd like to feed off that, the way he plays this golf course," Love said. "I used to think that I could hit it as far as he hits it, and I like to watch that. You want to get pulled along by that energy.
"It always comes down to who makes putts. And if you can get in with somebody playing well. ... It would be nice to be with him around here."
Bob Harig, who covers golf for the St. Petersburg Times, writes a column every Tuesday for ESPN Golf Online.
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Davis Love III talks about shooting a 68.