Love would like to match Nicklaus ' age-defying feat

Davis Love III was such a fixture in the Masters Tournament for so long that fans expected him to be in the field each year.

Love, a two-time runner-up at Augusta National Golf Club, played in 18 Masters, including 17 in a row starting in 1991.

When his world ranking dropped after a leg injury, Love didn't qualify for the Masters in 2008, 2009 or 2010.

"It was tough," said Love, who lives in Sea Island, Ga. "It's hard to sit out any major, but especially the first one of the year, the Masters, right in your home (state)."

Those who didn't follow golf closely inadvertently rubbed it in.

"People just assume that you're playing," Love said. "They say, 'See you at Augusta.' No, you won't. It's nice to know I'm back in."

Love qualified by finishing in the top eight in last year's U.S. Open -- he tied for sixth at Pebble Beach, showing he still had plenty of game in his mid-40s.

Love believes he can win the Masters this year if his game catches fire. He knows Jack Nicklaus became the oldest winner of a major championship when he won the 1986 Masters at 46.

That is Love's age.

"I want to get there just in case that's the week I get hot -- like Jack 25 years ago," said Love, who will be the U.S. captain for the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. "There will be weeks this year that I get hot and have a chance to win, and hopefully it's in a major, and hopefully, it's at the Masters."

Love needs to look no further than 50-year-old Kenny Perry for motivation. Of Perry's 14 PGA Tour victories, five of them came after he turned 47.

"Like Kenny Perry told me, 'My best years were 47, 48 and 49' and I've got those ahead of me," Love said. "I might as well keep going. I've got that to look forward to."

Love has one major title (the 1997 PGA Championship) and has finished in the top 10 six times at Augusta National.

"I know if I go in there and have a really good putting week, I can be competitive, like Freddie (Couples) or Jack (Nicklaus)," Love said. "We know the course, we know the tournament, we've had success there.

''Just go in there and putt well. I still have the length and the experience. You want a chance. Playing three out of four majors the past few years, that's 25 percent less chance of winning one."

Short of a victory, Love would at least like to finish in the top 16 to ensure a return trip to Augusta in 2012.

"I'd love to have a few shots at winning it. I've got to go in there and play well," he said.

For the first time since 2007, Love is building his early-season PGA Tour schedule in the hopes of peaking for the Masters. That's a lot more fun than playing week after week in January, February and March trying to get in the Masters via victory or through the top 50 in the world rankings.

"I don't have to try to play my way in, knowing I've got to play well at Bay Hill or Houston to get in," Love said of the two tournaments that lead into the Masters. "Now, this time I can use Bay Hill and Houston to get ready, which will be a nice change."

Love thought he might make the 2009 Masters by slipping into the top 50 two weeks before the Masters. He was 47th the week before the cutoff to qualify for the Masters, but missed the cut at Bay Hill and dropped to 51st, missing the 50th spot by .45 of a point.

"The bad thing is I went into Bay Hill thinking if I just skipped it I might improve my world ranking," Love said. "Then I played and didn't play well and sure enough, I got knocked out. I was thinking too much and trying too hard.

"Instead of grinding out top-10s every week like I've been doing, I've got to start grinding out some wins and get back to where every week I've got a chance to win, then I'll get back up in the rankings," Love said. "I don't want to get back on the bubble anymore."

With a spot in the Masters assured, Love was much more relaxed during the pre-Masters events this season.

"The older you get, the more you realize you were trying too hard all the time," Love said. "Whether it's trying to get in the Masters or win the Ryder Cup, I think that's a problem the top players have. It's not that they're not good enough. It's that they're trying too hard. It's hard to just turn it off trying too hard and go back to playing golf."

Reach David Westin at (706) 823-3224 ordavid.westin@augustachronicle.com.