PGA NOTES
MEDINAH, Ill. – Davis Love III understands that sometimes when you want something badly, trying too hard to attain it can work against you. That has been the story of his quest to make the Ryder Cup team.
“That’s nothing more than getting out of the present and into some kind of results,” Love said yesterday. “I think this year I’ve started playing for [Ryder Cup] points, and it’s really been a distraction.
I’ve enjoyed the last couple weeks because it’s been a challenge to put that out of [my] head.” Love, the 1997 PGA Champion, is trying to “put it out of his head” this week as he tries to not only capture his second major, but earn enough points to make the Ryder Cup team. His 3-under-par 69 yesterday left him at 7-under entering today’s third round. Love, who stands 15th in the points standings, has already told U.S. captain Tom Lehman that should he not reach the top 10, he won’t beg to be one of his two captain’s picks, even though the American team could use his experience.
“I told him all along to take the guy who’s playing good,” said Love, who has made six Ryder Cup appearances.
“Don’t worry about anything else, experience, age, whatever. Take whoever is playing good, is what I told him. I know he’s going to do that because he wants to win.”
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Chris Riley shot an even-par 72 yesterday with the help of two chip-ins from just off the green. He has totaled three chip-ins over the first two rounds.
“I really believe when I’m over a chip I’m going to make it,” said Riley, who is 6-under. “If I can’t make the 12-footers, I might as well chip them in.”
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After shooting a 70 on Thursday, Greg Bisconti followed with a 78 yesterday to go 4-over and miss the cut.
Bisconti is the club pro at St. Andrew’s Golf Club at Hastings-on-the Hudson. Area pros Mark Brown of Tam O’Shanter shot 8077, Craig Thomas of the Muttontown C.C. 76-70, and Ron Philo of Metropolis 82-73.
“How could you beat teeing off at the PGA Championship?” Philo said. “People pay to go to a fantasy camp and walk around with these guys. I’m not going to be miserable after my round.”
