Love has heart set on Ryder Cup playing role

DAVIS LOVE does not rule out being a playing-captain of the United States’ Ryder Cup team next year — something that has not been done since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

The 46-year-old, confirmed yesterday as Corey Pavin’s successor, said firmly: “If I qualify and I know that I am healthy I would like to play. Maybe I would play once a day and turn my radio in. It would be a nice problem to have.

“We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it, but it would be a great story for our team if I get three or four points out of the deal.”

Love currently stands 111th in the world and last season finished fourth in the Players Championship and sixth at the US Open.

One of Pavin’s four assistants in the one-point defeat at Celtic Manor in October, Love was as much a favourite to take over as Jose Maria Olazabal was to succeed Colin Montgomerie as Europe captain.

Love was unable to hold back the tears when asked how proud his late father would have been of him now. Killed in a plane crash in 1988, Love senior was also a professional golfer and led The Masters just a few days before Davis was born.

“This is a thrill I never thought I would have and I would have loved to share it with him,” he said.

Love says a key to winning back the trophy at Medinah in Chicago will be getting his team relaxed.

“What we have been missing is getting over nerves of being ready to play on the biggest stage. We’ve tried too hard and I’ll be trying to get the players relaxed and freed up. I am a players’ captain and I’m going to get them what they need to be successful.”