Davis Love III is a co-leader after 54 holes in The McGladrey Classic, tied at 13-under par with Jim Furyk. Victory would the 21st of his PGA TOUR career, ranking in the top 30 of all time. Win or lose, in this fan's opinion, he has already earned a spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
The criteria for entrance into the World Golf Half of Fame, on the PGA TOUR Ballot, include:
Minimum 40 years old: Davis Love III is a 48-year-old native of Charlotte, North Carolina.
PGA TOUR member for 10 years: Earning his first TOUR card by finishing seventh in the 1985 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament, Davis Love III has been a PGA TOUR member every year since 1986.
10 TOUR wins or 2 Majors or PLAYERS Championship wins: In his 27 year career, Davis Love III has 20 PGA TOUR wins, including the 1992 PLAYERS Championship, 1997 PGA Championship, and 2003 PLAYERS Championship.
The only three golfers with more PGA TOUR wins than Davis Love III*, who are not members of the World Golf Hall of Fame, are MacDonald Smith (24), Johnny Farrell (22), and Willie MacFarlane (21). Each of these professionals are long dead and, sadly, long forgotten by the Hall.
Adding to his credentials, Davis Love III served as team captain for the 2012 US Ryder Cup team.
Finally, in the class of 2013 ballot results, Davis Love III finished tied with Ken Venturi for the second highest vote total, behind only Fred Couples. Both Venturi and Couples are being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013.
I look forward to seeing Davis Love III listed as an inductee into the World Golf Half of Fame. He certainly deserves it.
* Tiger Woods obviously has more PGA TOUR wins than Davis Love III, with 74, but Woods has yet to reach age 40.
Harold Andrews has played golf (competitively and recreationally) for nearly 50 years. He considers Jack Nicklaus the greatest of all time.
source:
pgatour.com
worldgolfhalloffame.org
