U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III visits PGA Headquarters

Had he not been a professional golfer, Davis Love III didn't ponder long what he would be doing in life.

"I think that I would probably have been a back country hunting guide," said Love. "I would definitely be spending a lot of time outdoors."

Hunting is a perfect fit for Love, considering his latest role as the U.S. Ryder Cup Captain. In 19 months, he will lead the hunt for a major prize - the elusive four-pound Ryder Cup trophy that is in Europe's care. The 39th Ryder Cup is Sept. 28-30, 2012, at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club.

Love's journey in chasing the Cup began in January, when he was introduced to Chicagoans while promoting Medinah's serving as the first Illinois facility to host a Ryder Cup. Joined by his wife, Robin, Love visited PGA of America Headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Feb. 28, greeting the staff at a reception and rolling up his sleeves for his next challenge.

Love, 46, is the 27th American professional golfer to be named Ryder Cup Captain.

"There are only 27 of his kind, and it's very special. It's the ultimate fraternity in golf," said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka, prior to Love taking center stage.

"It is not about me, it's about the players and The PGA of America," said Love, the 1997 PGA Champion and a member of the last U.S. Team to win a Ryder Cup (1993) in Europe. "I'm looking forward to working with your team. The goal is to get the trophy back. It's up to 12 golfers, and I would like to be one of the 12."

Love's competitiveness is evident, having competed on six Ryder Cup Teams and understanding the odds against earning a team berth on his own. The last playing Ryder Cup Captain was Arnold Palmer in 1963.

"Everyone at The PGA has made me feel special since we began talking in Wales [during the 2010 Ryder Cup]," said Love. "I want to pass that level of commitment to the players. I look at serving as Captain as paying back for all that the Captains did for me."

Europe currently boasts four of the top five world-ranked players and 10 among the top 20, which Love noted would present a difficult challenge no matter where the Ryder Cup is contested.

"There's certainly a great amount of young talent, and what you have seen is that many players, like Luke Donald, made a commitment to U.S. college golf first, and were able to gain more confidence in playing over here," said Love. "The players are incredible, getting younger and younger and are better athletes."

When asked his most memorable Ryder Cup moment to date, Love said it wasn't anything that he did on the course.

"My fondest memories will be the Sunday night party when our team and theirs get together in one room," said Love. "You have scenes like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson on one side of the ping pong table taking on the Europeans. After all the battles that we had for three days, we are friends in the end. The best memories for me are the time that we spend with the team."