Golf

Love's Master Plan

Taking a cue from Norman, he decides to reach higher
Davies vs. Daly
Woosie succeeds by going back to basics

Like a 19th-century socialite angling for inclusion in Mrs. Astor's 400, Davis Love III last year desired an invitation to the Masters. That was sufficient motivation for a win in New Orleans, which led to Love's first two top-10 finishes in the majors, at Augusta and Shinnecock Hills, and his most satisfying season to date. This year Love has only his own will to prod him to greatness, though Greg Norman unknowingly helped refine a few goals for the year.

Following his come-from-behind win on Sunday at the Buick Invitational, Love said, "I want to do something special. I've won 10 times now, and if I win 12 or 15 or 18 times, I don't think it's going to make much difference. But if I get the Vardon Trophy, that would be something. I'd like to start striving, like Greg, for those things that are really hard to get: the scoring title, the money title, player of the year, so that you really have to push yourself."

Ambition renewed, Love went to Pebble Beach the Saturday before the tournament, the earliest he has ever arrived at an event. One stroke off the lead when the AT&T was canceled, Love was primed to win the Buick Invitational, which he did thanks to a brilliant 64 in the final round.

"I was looking at that zero by my name on the money list and thinking that it was time to get going," Love said. "I couldn't help feeling that I was already behind Phil Mickelson and that eventually, because I'm older, he was going to go right on by me. But not today he won't."

Davies Measures Up

Laura Davies wasn't trying to make a statement last weekend at the Australian Skins Game, but her game said it all. The LPGA's longest hitter went to the back tees with John Daly, Tom Watson and Peter Senior, made three birdies on the 7,320-yard Pines course at Sanctuary Cove, won two skins, regularly blew drives past the tee shots of Watson and Senior and proved that she has the goods to hold her own with men.

Then she said she didn't want any part of gender equity. "The skins is just a fun thing, and there's no place for ladies on the men's tour or men on the ladies' tour," said Davies, who finished behind Daly ($78,000) and Watson ($21,000) but ahead of Senior ($3,750), with $9,750. "They are two totally separate tours, but every so often something different comes along, and it's fun to do it. At the moment I'm enjoying playing on the ladies' tour, which is where I belong."

L.A. Story