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Ryder Cup Captain Love to speak at Junior PGA's opening ceremony

By The PGA of America
Published on
Ryder Cup Captain Love to speak at Junior PGA's opening ceremony

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -– Davis Love III, the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain and winner of the 1997 PGA Championship, will be the featured speaker during the opening ceremony for the 37th Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Heritage Food Service Group, July 30, at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind.

"I am really looking forward to attending this year's Junior PGA Championship, where I will be able to share some of my experiences from a game that has taught me so much," said Love. "These junior golfers will be able to showcase their talents in a prestigious Championship and give us a glimpse into the future of our great game."

One of golf’s major championships for juniors, the Junior PGA Championship is where the best in the world get their start. Begun in 1976, the Championship has been a popular stop on the national junior circuit for many of today’s PGA and LPGA touring professionals.

The Junior PGA Championship continues to be a parade of star performers. Past competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers include: Stewart Cink, Trevor Immelman, Cristie Kerr, Justin Leonard, Michelle McGann, Phil Mickelson, Grace Park, In-Bee Park, Dottie Pepper, Alexis Thompson, David Toms and Tiger Woods.

In addition to playing for a Championship title, players will attempt to earn a spot on the 2012 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team. The United States team, compiled of six boys and six girls, will face a European squad of junior golfers, Sept. 24-25, at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club.

Both the winner and runner-up in both boys' and girls' division in 2012 earn an automatic spot on the team.

Love, who will guide the 12-member team in the 39th Ryder Cup, Sept. 28-30, at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club, owns a career 9-12-5 match record while competing on three Ryder Cup Teams. In 2010, he served as an assistant captain at Newport, Wales.

He will lead a U.S. Team that last won the Ryder Cup in 2008 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., and has only held possession of the Ryder Cup trophy three times since 1985.