Love's emphatic win augurs well for Augusta
IN: News | US PGA | The Players Championship (2003) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 31 Mar 2003
Davis Love III had won The Player Championship previously but it had been eleven years ago since he held one of the most coveted trophies on the USPGA Tour aloft.
For Love, however, 2003 is already turning out to be one of his best seasons on tour. It is true that his PGA win in 1997 will still be considered his greatest highlight but given the growing prestige and importance placed on this event, his victory this week is not far behind.
His win is timely, given that Augusta is not far away and with two second place finishes at the Masters in 1995 and 1999, it is not hard to see him being in the thick of things on April 13th.
Love had won earlier in the season at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the win here and its massive first prize of $US1,170,000 has not only taken him to second on the 2003 money list behind Woods, but also to second place on the all time money list, surpassing Phil Mickelson and just one position behind Woods.
Love began round four tied in third place two behind Harrington and Haas. His start was solid but did not exactly indicate what was to come when he was just one under through seven holes, and at that stage, two behind Haas. It was at that point that all hell broke loose. He birdied the next five holes to open up a three shot lead over Haas, who was beginning to struggle a little and Harrington, who had dropped a shot early in proceedings and was back at ten under. Any suggestion that the dangerous finish at Sawgrass could still figure in the final outcome was put to bed when Love eagled the par five 16th and a par at the par 3 17th saw him with the luxury of a six shot lead playing the demanding final hole. Another rock solid par saw the eventual margin of six between he and Harrington and Haas, who tied for second with Robert Allenby and Jim Furyk in a tie for fourth, one shot further back.
Allenby's early round of 65 was perhaps always going to be a shot or two short of the mark but as the conditions started to worsen in the mid-afternoon it was clear he had done enough to warrant a high finish and his fourth place tie earns him $US285,000. His round of 65 today was worth $US240,000 more than an even par round would have earned him.
Darren Clarke and the ever-improving and talented Chad Campbell tied for sixth. Campbell's finish and his top ten place on this season's money list ensures that he will be teeing it up at Augusta this year.
Tiger Woods indicated early in his round that he may yet be a factor with an early eagle but a double bogey at the fourth slowed the momentum. He rallied again late in the round until a double at the seventeenth saw him finish with a 72 and a six way tie for 11th, eleven shots behind Love.
Craig Perks faded somewhat in round four after a marvellous attempt to defend his title. Given his recent form, this was an impressive effort and his 17th place will be worth around $US90,000, as it will be for Adam Scott who finished alongside him. Stuart Appleby was 21st along with Geoff Ogilvy, Peter Lonard fell victim to Sawgrass's dangerous finish and dropped five shots on the closing two holes to slip to 56th place.
