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Trading age for guile, Love hopes for Sunday charge

Davis Love III shot 68 on Saturday at the Greenbrier Classic to move 10-under for the tournament.

 

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — While being 53 has stripped yards off his tee shots, Davis Love III hopes the years have provided intangible benefits as a tradeoff.

“Under the pressure, I know how to handle things,” the future Hall-of-Famer said Saturday at the Greenbrier Classic, where his 10-under left him four shots behind Columbian rookie Sebastian Munoz.

Love enters the final round tied for fifth and seeking to supplant Sam Snead as the oldest player to win a PGA Tour event.

“I’ve seen some guys this week kind of go up and down and make some rookie mistakes, including myself,” Love said. “I’m going to make mistakes too, but hopefully the experience will pay off.”

Some 31 years Love’s junior, Munoz politely remarked “it would be awesome” to witness history. But the former University of North Texas golfer prefers to make his own history with a debut PGA victory.

“(Love) has to beat me and a lot of other guys, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens tomorrow,” Munoz said.

Love and 27-year-old Tony Finau (-8) will tee off a half-hour before Munoz’s final pairing on Sunday.

“I don’t think much about age,” Love said. “I want to go out and compete. There’s a reason why I keep having surgery, coming back, doing the rehab and trying to play. There’s a lot to play for. I’m going to stay after it.”

Watson fades

Bubba Watson began Saturday at 4-under and speculating to give the Greenbrier fans a local favorite.

Instead he shot 5-over 75, a steep dropoff that saw him wading shoeless into a water hazard.

Now 15 shots off the lead in a tie for 67th, Watson will tee off 8:29 a.m. Sunday.

Quotable

”No, no, no, no. I went down there on Monday. Cleaned me out. I’m staying out of there.” — Sebastian Munoz, asked Saturday if he planned to visit the Greenbrier casino

“They were smart to put his face on the tickets.” — Xander Schauffele on sharing the leaderboard with Davis Love III

“Got to make some putts tomorrow. Might take 6-under to win.” — Jamie Lovemark, three shots off the lead, anticipating he may need to shoot 64 Sunday.