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BOB HARIGBecause the two-time runnerup covets a green jacket, he has not played relaxed in the past.
AUGUSTA, Ga. - There is no denying his love for the Masters, his desire to win the tournament and his ability to do so.
Nobody would be surprised if Davis Love III walks out of Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday night wearing a green jacket.
Only Love himself has gotten in the way of that happening so far.
Perhaps he wants it too much.
Love opened the 68th Masters on Thursday with 75 but bounced back with the lowest round of the day Friday, shooting 5-under-par 67 to move into contention.
He was hoping to play this tournament as relaxed as he has others, but it simply happened a day late.
"I was a little bit out of my rhythm (Thursday). I hit some bad shots, maybe trying too hard just to hit it. I got a little sloppy," Love said. "I got back into playing golf and getting my targets and putting to make every putt. That old cliche that we all throw out there, one shot at a time and all that, I did a good job."
Love, who turns 40 Tuesday, got back to even par for the tournament by the sixth hole. He made birdie at the 10th and eagle at the 15th before bogeying the 16th. Love finished at 142, 2 under par, just four shots behind leader Justin Rose.
And being in this territory is nothing new. He has finished runnerup twice, including 1995, when his score of 275, 13 under par, would have won all but six Masters.
Love has twice won the Players Championship in the weeks preceding the Masters. Five times he has won at Hilton Head, the week after, including last year.
"I haven't let myself go at the Masters enough," Love said. "I take a deep breath and drive down the road to Hilton Head and say, "Why didn't I win the Masters?' And then I play at Hilton Head and I win, because I relax and play my game and I'm confident."
Love was born the day after the 1964 Masters, where his father, Davis Love Jr., tied for the 18-hole lead and finished tied for 34th. It was Arnold Palmer's fourth and final Masters victory.
Palmer played his last round in the Masters on Friday, and Love was happy to be part of it. In fact, he got in a practice round with Palmer before the tournament.
"It was the highlight of my week, and one of my Masters memories I'll always treasure," Love said. "I hate to see him go, but he said he'd be back for the (Champions) dinner, so maybe we'll talk him into another practice round."
Or, perhaps, Love can get himself a seat at that dinner.
All he has to do is win.
"I've got a lot of great memories here," Love said. "I've shot scores that can win, so I've just got to keep after it."