Davis Love III
A graceful, powerful golfer from a storied family who won a major and became a respected elder statesman of the PGA Tour.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American professional golfer·Birthday: April 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Davis Love III carried the weight of a golfing name with a serene, powerful swing that seemed destined for greatness. The son of a revered teaching pro, he blended classic technique with modern athleticism, becoming one of the game's most consistent winners across three decades. His 1997 PGA Championship victory at Winged Foot was a cathartic triumph, a major finally claimed after years of near-misses. Beyond his 21 Tour wins, Love's legacy is one of stewardship. Respected for his integrity and deep knowledge of the game, he served as a calming captain for victorious U.S. Ryder Cup teams and later as a voice on the PGA Tour's policy board, helping guide the sport through turbulent times while maintaining the traditions he embodied.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Davis was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Davis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Davis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club, securing his only major championship victory.
- Captained the victorious United States Ryder Cup team in 2016, ending a string of European wins in the event.
- Won the Players Championship twice (1992, 2003), one of the Tour's most prestigious non-major events.
- Was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017, recognizing his career achievements and impact on the sport.
Did You Know?
His father, Davis Love Jr., was a well-respected golf instructor who died in a plane crash in 1988.
He is one of the few players to have shot a 59 in an official PGA Tour event, accomplishing the feat at the 1997 Las Vegas Invitational.
He designed several golf courses, including the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club, a regular Tour stop.
He won at least one PGA Tour event in three different decades (1980s, 1990s, and 2000s).
““My dad always said, 'It's not about the score, it's about the process.'””
