GOLF ROUNDUP : Victory Means Love-Filled Day At The Masters

Davis Love III watched his ball drop into bunkers on the 17th and 18th holes and saw more than the title at the Freeport McMoRan Classic slipping away.

There was this other tournament on his mind--The Masters.

“Every time I made a move I was trying to win and trying to get into the Masters,” Love said. “Not just here but all year. Now maybe I can relax.”

It took two more holes for Love to be in the clear. He defeated Mike Heinen on the second playoff hole Sunday to win not only this $1.2 million tournament in New Orleans, but also an invitation to The Masters.

Bogeys on the final two holes tied Love with Heinen at 14-under and sent them into a playoff. Love sank a three-foot putt--”a very, very long three-foot putt”--for a birdie on the second hole for the victory and the $216,000 winners purse.

“I knew he was going to make his birdie,” Heinen said. “I was just trying to make one to send it to another hole.”

Instead, Heinen’s 20-foot putt missed and he settled for second place and $129,600.

It was Love’s ninth PGA victory, his first playoff win in four tries. His previous victory was the Las Vegas Invitational in 1993.

This will be Love’s sixth trip to The Masters. He missed the cut in 1988 and last year. His best finish was in 1992 when he tied for 25th.

Love, who started Sunday at 13-under, shot the first nine in 31. He then slowly moved up on Heinen over the back nine, following a birdie on nine with birdies on 10, 11 and 13.

David Duval had five birdies and two bogeys for a 67 and third place at 13-under. Craig Parry was fourth at 12-under and three players finished tied for fifth.