PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Long before Davis Love III resigned himself to neck surgery there was fear.
“I’ve had fear the last two or three years,” said Love, who will be making his first start since neck surgery in February at this week’s Players.
Through pain and numbness and bad swing habits, Love wrestled with the reality that one day he would be forced to go under the knife and correct the litany of spine issues that were caused by countless hours perfecting his action.
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But when he withdrew from the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, that fear gave way to the inevitable and he realized it was time.
“I could tell something was wrong at the start of the year,” Love said. “I woke up after the surgery and I immediately felt better.”
The hardest part of Love’s recovery has been regaining the strength in his left arm and he delayed his comeback until this week’s Players to assure he was “100 percent.” And this week’s event, which he has won twice, could hardly be considered a soft opening.
Love plans to take next week off before playing a 36-hole qualifying event for the British Open on May 20 in Dallas, followed by starts at the Colonial and Memorial and finally a 36-hole U.S. Open qualifying event on June 3 in Ohio.