Love hopes to turn back clock
At 53, American veteran could become the oldest winner the PGA Tour in history
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Davis Love believes his experience might give him an edge as he tries to become the PGA Tour’s oldest winner at age 53. First, he must surpass several others, including a rookie trying to become the first wire-to-wire winner in The Greenbrier Classic.
Sebastian Munoz shot a 2-under 68 on Saturday to maintain a twostroke lead over Robert Streb after the third round. The 24-year-old Colombian was at 14-under 196 at Old White TPC. Streb shot a 65.
Love was tied with two others at 10-under after a 68 with four players ahead of him. The twotime Ryder Cup captain who will enter the World Golf Hall of Fame in September likes his chances Sunday.
“Under the pressure, I know how to handle things,” Love said. “I’ve seen some guys this week kind of go up and down and make some rookie mistakes, including myself. I’m going to make mistakes, too, but hopefully the experience will pay off.”
Nick Taylor (69) of Abbotsford was the low Canadian through 54 holes at 8-under and tied for eighth. David Hearn (70) of Brantford, Ont., is at 6-under, while Graham DeLaet (71) of Weyburn, Sask., sits at 5-under and Mackenzie Hughes (71) of Dundas, Ont., is 3-under.
At No. 221 in the FedEx Cup standings, Love wants to make the season-ending playoffs and is among those trying to qualify for the British Open in two weeks. The leading four players not already exempt from the top-12 finishers will earn spots. Russell Henley is the only player in the top 10 who has already qualified.
Sam Snead won the last of his eight titles at Greensboro in 1965 at 52 years, 10 months, 8 days. Love will try to break the mark at the former playground of Snead, who was the longtime head pro and pro emeritus at The Greenbrier resort.
Love’s last win was two years ago at the Wyndham Championship, making him the tour’s third-oldest winner.
“I don’t think much about age,” Love said. “I think that I want to go out and compete. There’s a reason why I keep having surgery, coming back, doing the rehab and trying to play. There’s a lot to play for, not just for this week but for the rest of the season. I’m going to stay after it.”
Munoz welcomes the challenge, especially from Love.
“That would be awesome if he wins,” Munoz said. “He has to beat me and all the other guys. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
While his birdie pace slowed to a trickle, Munoz overcame several miscues to stay atop the leaderboard. He saved par on the ninth hole after driving under a tree, regained the lead with a 26-foot birdie putt on the par-4 13th after driving into the rough, and added a 36-footer for birdie on the par4 15th.
Streb, five strokes behind Munoz entering the day, birdied the 490yard 11th and hit his 231-yard approach shot next to the flag and made eagle at the par-5 12th.
He’d like to do a little better than in 2015 at the tournament, when he lost in a four-man playoff won by Danny Lee.
That year, Streb broke his putter on the ninth hole in the final round when he tossed it at his bag next to the green. He made five birdie putts on the back nine with a 56-degree wedge. He was able to put a new putter in his bag for the playoff but was eliminated on the first extra without ever using it.
Using the wedge on the greens “worked out pretty well at the time,” Streb said. “I’m not planning on living up to that again.”