Former PGA Championship winner and U.S. Ryder Cup hero Davis Love III is recovering at home after open-heart surgery this week in Florida.
The 60-year-old, who has 21 victories on the PGA Tour and was previously the No. 2 player in the world, is said to be in good spirits after the procedure.
Jim Nantz revealed the news live on CBS, telling fans, “I just want to pass on our warmest wishes from around the golf world… we have your back, Davis Love III.
“Folks, he was just released this morning from Mayo in Jacksonville after open heart surgery this week to replace, in his words, a leaky valve discovered about a decade ago.
'This operation had been planned for some time. He said, “I went in healthy and came out healthier.” I spoke to him right before we went on air today.”
Love III was a huge figure in the world of professional golf in the 1990s and early 2000s, winning the 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot.
Golf legend Davis Love III will have a shot at a tournament in Jacksonville in October 2023
Love III was one of the captains of the USA Ryder Cup team in Rome two years ago
He won the PGA Championship in 1997, beating Justin Leonard by five shots to seal the title
He captained the U.S. Ryder Cup team twice, in 2012 and 2016, and was inducted into the golf Hall of Fame in 2017.
Talking more about Love III, Nantz continued, “The first thing he did when he went home with Robin was he quit and had his first round of therapy with Andrew Novak's father-in-law, Randy Myers. His daughter Maddie is married to Andrew Novak.
“Davis, we're all thinking of you. Former champion here, great man. In Davis' words: he will ride in March and in April. He's doing fine, it sounds – in his words – a lot worse than it actually was.
“But if you're talking about open heart surgery, I'm just glad to hear he's doing well. One of the most beloved guys in golf.”
