Golf

It's another Love story at Heritage

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- There must be something special about that Harbour Town lighthouse for Davis Love.

Love chipped in on the final hole to force a playoff, then hit the flagstick with his approach on the fourth extra hole -- famous No. 18 with a candy-cane-striped lighthouse in the background -- to defeat Tampa native Woody Austin Sunday for the MCI Heritage title.

Love trailed Austin by a stroke on his last hole when he sent his approach to the right of the green. Feeling the confidence that comes with four previous victories at Harbour Town Golf Links, Love told his brother and caddie, Mark, he would chip it in for birdie.

Moments later, Love rolled in a wedge shot from 66 feet, 8 inches to tie for the lead at 13-under 271.

"That's why I was so excited because I finally put my mind to it," Love said.

Then, after watching Austin miss makeable putts for the victory on the second and third extra holes, Love struck a 6-iron shot that bounced off the pin and settled about 3 feet away. He lined up the putt, took one practice swing and dropped it in -- to the blares of boat horns in Callibogue Sound.

"I hear a lot of jokes around the locker room saying, 'You're automatic here,' or whatever," said Love, who shot a final-round 67. "But I feel like I'm comfortable here. Maybe when I get in trouble or when I hit a bad shot I don't lose my patience quite as fast here."

Love won for the 17th time in his PGA Tour career.

Austin, who had a bogey-free 68, had his chances to win. He missed a 6-foot putt on the second playoff hole and a 3-footer on the third extra hole, both of which would have given him the title. But he had no regrets.

"It's been a long time since I felt I was hitting it this good. It's fun to be back in the game."

Austin, who now lives in Derby, Kan., joined the tour in 1995 and that year won his only tournament, the Buick Open.

As Austin waited to hit his approach to the 18th in regulation, he was told he was the only one at 13 under and felt he might be moments from victory. Then he heard the crowd react to Love's chip-in.

"I look up, I heard a deafening roar," Austin said. "This is a great place for him, obviously, and great things happen to him here."

Love, who won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and Players Championship, joins Tiger Woods and Masters winner Mike Weir as three-time champions on tour this season.

Four birdies and an eagle on the front nine gave Ernie Els the lead. But he drove it out of bounds on the 16th hole to start his downfall, finishing three shots back.

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