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Love's father not forgotten after exploit
Posted: Saturday April 12, 2003 7:47 PM
Updated: Saturday April 12, 2003 9:15 PM
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Davis Love Jr., father of Davis Love III, grabbed a share of the lead with an opening 69 in the 1964 Masters. Love faded to 34th at the end of the tournament, but he went on to enjoy a distinguished career as a golf instructor. File/AugustaChronicle |
By David Westin
The Augusta Chronicle
First-round wonders in the Masters Tournament have a history of fading into obscurity, never to be heard from again.
Not so with Davis Love Jr., the surprise co-leader after the first round of the 1964 Masters.
He disappeared as a professional golfer but re-emerged a decade later as a nationally renowned Golf Digest Schools instructor in Sea Island, Ga., and the father of a major championship winner.
From 1958-60, Love played the PGA Tour with limited success. He then went the club pro route and, by 1964, was the head pro at Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club.
"I realized that I wouldn't be a big money winner as a touring professional and that my future in golf was as a club professional, so I gave up the tour," Love said after opening with 3-under-par 69 to tie for the lead at the 1964 Masters.
The previous year, Love had qualified for the U.S. Open. His finish there - a tie for 14th - earned him the invitation to the 1964 Masters. In his first Masters appearance, as an amateur in 1955, Love shot 82-85-83-77-327 to finish 68th.
In comparison with his fellow first-round leaders in 1964, Love was an unknown, as The Augusta Chronicle labeled him.
He was tied with two former Masters champions (Arnold Palmer and Gary Player), one future champion (Bob Goalby) and talented Australian Kel Nagle.
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