Love IV finds out father knows best
Dru Love had just pulled his drive way left at Erin Hills’ par-4 17th hole Thursday, his ball coming to rest on matted down rough that fans had trampled down throughout the week. He had 190 yards left to the hole with a little wind at his back.
Any other time, Love would have hit 8-iron or maybe a hard 9-iron, but on this occasion an experienced and trusted voice told him to hit pitching wedge.
“I remember saying, ‘What? Pitching wedge?’ ” Love recalled.
But Love didn’t argue. He doesn’t argue with dad, especially when dad is Davis Love III, a Hall of Famer, major winner and twotime Ryder Cup captain. Instead, he listened to his overqualified caddie and flew his wedge 200 yards, his ball finding the back part of the green.
“If he hadn’t been there to tell me to hit pitching wedge, I would have soared it into the grandstands,” Love IV said. “So he definitely saved me a few shots today.”
But Love III shouldn’t get all the credit for Love IV’s opening 1under-par 71 in the U.S. Open, his first major championship start and his first start as a professional. Pops might have all the experience, but it was his boy hitting the shots. Love IV made four birdies, but more important recovered nicely. He had three bogeys despite hitting three times into the fescue, including once off a shanked iron from the rough while laying up on the par-5 seventh hole.
“I learned a lot about myself, lot about my game,” Love IV said.
He also learned he can compete against the world’s top players. As an amateur, Love IV battled injuries, and his results suffered. Many questioned his future. After all, he struggled to crack the lineup at Alabama.
Now healthy, Love IV is starting to show glimpses of what could be a promising career. He already has the high standards, saying he was “a tad disappointed” with his 71.
He also still has the nerves. It took him a good nine holes to settle in as he struggled to get comfortable.
“I got to No. 9 and was looking down at the green and the grandstands behind there, and I was — I don’t want to say freaked out, but I was excited,” Love IV said. “I guided a wedge down there and three-putted. You know, I know it’s something that’s going to happen. You’re going to make mistakes, but I think that mistake was just a little bit in the moment, and maybe tomorrow I’ll do a lot better.”
No Phil:
Phil Mickelson pulled out of the tournament early Thursday to stay at home for his daughter’s graduation. A sunny forecast meant no rain delay and no chance to fly from California. Roberto Diaz, the alternate, shot par 72.