Davis Love III is hoping to make life difficult on the folks at the World Golf Hall of Fame. The 53-year-old is slated to enter golf’s prestigious shrine in September, but after a first-round 7-under par 63 at the Greenbrier Classic, Love III is hoping to need an updated plaque.
Love III became the third-oldest winner in PGA Tour history when he won the 2015 Wyndham Classic, upping his career tally on the Tour to 21 wins. He’s in good position to chase down No. 22 this week in West Virginia.
At 53 years young, @Love3d fires a bogey-free 63 to take early lead at Greenbrier. No top-40s since Jan 2016 but won '15 Wyndham at age 51.
— Will Gray (@WillGrayGC) July 6, 2017
Heading into the World Golf Hall of Fame in September, the 53-year-old Love shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday in The Greenbrier Classic, leaving him two strokes behind first-round leader Sebastian Munoz.
Love is looking for his first win since the 2015 Wyndham Championship, which made him the third-oldest winner in PGA TOUR history. He would be the oldest if he wins in West Virginia.
Slowed this year by a bad back and a broken collarbone sustained in a January snowboarding accident in Sun Valley, Idaho, Love took advantage of a course softened by overnight rain for his best round of the season. He birdied four of his first five holes in the morning round on Old White, the course that was reconstructed after deadly floods forced the cancellation of last year’s tournament.
“I’ve been working real hard the last couple of weeks on trying to fix my swing to kind of swing around a stiff back and a stiff hip,” the elder Love said. “I’ve given up on hitting it a long way. I’m just saying I’ve got to hit it straight, and this is the perfect golf course for me to get it in the fairway. A lot of hard work is kind of starting to pay off.”
Munoz went nuts on Thursday, birdieing five holes on the back nine to post a 9-under par 61 to hold the first-round lead. He leads Love III by two and a host of players at 6-under par by three.
Phil Mickelson, in his first round without longtime caddie Jim Mackay on the bag, fired a solid 3-under par 67 to open up his proceedings. Patrick Reed shot 4-under par 66 and Bubba Watson shot 1-under par 69.
Here is the complete first round highlights, courtesy of the PGA Tour.
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