WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — With a father who’ll soon be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Dru Love wants to start winning tournaments himself.
Thus far, the 23-year-old has amassed only a string of injuries.
A promising college career at the University of Alabama originally was derailed by a pickup basketball game in which Love IV tore ligaments throughout his ankle and required reconstructive surgery. The next year he broke his wrist sledding with cousins, and before graduating, he also tore rib cartilage and underwent labrum surgery.
“It’s kind of a long list unfortunately,” said Love IV. “After I had that (labrum) surgery I got a little bit down and was a little upset that I kept on getting hurt when I felt like I was doing some good things. Was starting to play good, starting to really come into my game, and another eight months out.
“So my dad helped me out a lot trying to stay positive.”
Davis Love III casts a huge shadow across the sport, much less his own household: 21 PGA Tour wins, the 1997 PGA Championship, six Ryder Cups as a player and one as a captain. Still, he sees just as much star potential in his hulking, 6-foot-5 son, who recently qualified for the U.S. Open and received an exemption for the Greenbrier Classic.
“Dru is one where if he could good the to tour with a tour card he would do really, really well,” said Love III. “He needs to get some experience. In golf years he’s probably only about 18; in his body he’s 25 or 26 instead of 23. So he’s got a lot of experience to get.”
With young insurgents like Jordan Spieth becoming the new face of American golf — and former Alabama teammate Justin Thomas firing a 59 at the Sony Open — Love IV gets impatient for his chance.
“Yeah, when you’re sitting around watching Jordan Spieth chip in to win his 10th time and he’s the same age as you, it makes you think a little bit,” he said. “But at the same time, I just got out of school. Jordan only went for, what, one year? He’s got four (professional) years on me.
“Do I think I’ll win 10 times over the next four years? We will see.”
He came within a stroke of making the U.S. Open cut, an experience made more memorable because his father served as caddie. The atmosphere of a major never rattled Love IV, who grew up with virtually unrestricted access to some of golf’s hugest names.
“I mean, Dru putted for Fred Couples in a U.S. Open practice round, nine holes, and got to hit shots on major championship courses and walk inside the ropes and hang out in the locker room with Tiger Woods,” Love III said.
“I remember him in the Champion’s loft at TPC with Tiger joking. So if he comes out on tour, some of the things that intimidate guys don’t intimidate him. He blends right in. Tell him to trust that if he gets out here, he’ll feel like he can belong and compete.”