Illinois, June 11: The latest tragedy to befall Davis Love III has given the American a fresh perspective as he bids to land his first U.S. Open title this week.
An emotional Love, whose father died in a plane crash in 1988, told reporters at Olympia Fields Country Club on Tuesday that the suicide of his brother-in-law last month had reminded him of what was closest to his heart.
"No matter how much success you have at your job, your family is the most important thing in life, and can change anything," the 39-year-old said. "We've been tragically reminded twice in our family how important it is to stay close and take care of each other.
"I know in other family members' minds that golf is the most important thing, but it is just a game. We take it way too seriously.

"We can learn a lot from it to apply to our daily life...but we need to appreciate the fact we are lucky (to play) and continue to focus on family."



Jeffrey Knight, married to the sister of Love's wife, shot himself in May after learning the FBI were investigating him for the theft of money from one of Love's accounts.



Love, the leading money-winner on the PGA Tour this year, says the hardest aspect of the tragedy has been comforting the family's children. But he also insists that playing the 103rd U.S. Open this week will show them how life can return to some kind of normality.



"Trying to explain why they lost a father, or a friend, or an uncle (to the children) has been the hardest thing," said Love, who discovered Knight's body. "The family is on a big vacation in Florida right now, and I feel guilty that I'm not home helping. But they keep assuring me they're fine.



"It's a tough time, but everybody has to show that we're strong and life goes on. If I was sitting around doing nothing, it would look like things aren't right.



"My kids were watching my scores last week -- they asked me how I played and said 'guess what we did today'. That's good for them and me, too...that they see that dad goes back to work."



Love's best finish at the U.S Open was a tie for second in 1996 and he is keen to add to his sole major triumph, achieved at the 1997 U.S. PGA championship.



"The last couple (of Opens) I haven't been as prepared as I could have been, physically," he said. "Confidence-wise, maybe this is one of my better chances to play well."


Bureau Report