Love named US Ryder Cup captain
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Your support makes all the difference.Former PGA Championship winner Davis Love III was appointed United States captain for the 2012 Ryder Cup by the PGA of America.
The 46-year-old American, a veteran of six Ryder Cups as a player, will lead the U.S. team at the 39th edition of the biennial competition, to be held at Medinah Country Club in Medinah near Chicago.
Love, who won his only major title in the 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot, has long expressed his desire to captain his country against Europe.
"I am thrilled and honoured to be here at Medinah Country Club to be talking about the 2012 Ryder Cup," Love told a news conference.
"It is a long, long away but we have been talking about this for a long time. Robin (Love's wife) and I ... we are thrilled to have this opportunity, we are excited to be a part of the Ryder Cup once again. It's a great honour in golf."
Love was one of four vice-captains to Corey Pavin in October when Europe won back the Ryder Cup by a single point at Celtic Manor in Wales and he is held in high esteem by his peers on the PGA Tour.
"To make one Ryder Cup team would make your career," Love said. "To make a few of them is a blessing. And to get to be an assistant captain was one of the highlights of my career, to be a part of the team from the inside and watch the players play.
"It is going to be an even bigger thrill for us to lead a team, to watch our team, the United States team, try to win the Ryder Cup back here in Medinah."
Love made his Ryder Cup debut at The Belfry in 1993 when he and Tom Kite beat Spanish heavyweights Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal 2&1 in the opening foursomes.
He ended that week by beating Italy's Costantino Rocca in the concluding singles to secure the decisive point for the Americans.
Love went on to represent his country against Europe in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2004 while appearing on two winning teams - at The Belfry in 1993 and at Brookline in 1999.
In six Cup appearances, he earned 11/1-2 points in 26 matches, compiling a win-loss-half record of 9-12-5.
Known for his long hitting, Love has won 20 times on the PGA Tour, most recently at the 2008 Disney Classic where he ended a title drought of more than two years.
The biggest victory of his career, however, came in the 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot where he coasted home by a commanding five shots.
Earlier this week, Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal was appointed European captain for the 2012 Ryder Cup, succeeding Britain's Colin Montgomerie.
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