Love makes 18th straight U.S. Open

UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio – After playing four difficult days at the Memorial, Davis Love III made it through 36 holes on Monday to qualify for his 18th consecutive trip to the U.S. Open.

Fred Couples and several other PGA Tour players weren’t so fortunate.

Love’s streak of 70 consecutive majors ended when he failed to qualify for the Masters, and there were no guarantees he would play in the next major until he followed a 72 at Brookside with a 5-under 66 at the tougher Ohio State Scarlet Course to become one of 23 players at the sectional qualifier to earn a trip to Torrey Pines.

It was one of 13 qualifiers held Monday in the United States, with another one in Europe.

Most of the PGA Tour players were at the Columbus sectional, having been in town for the Memorial. Love and Couples each played four days at Muirfield Village, then had to get up before the break of dawn.

“It’s a long week,” Love said. “That was a long, hard golf course to play and then to do anything on Monday, much less play 36 holes … I know the guys that played four rounds over there were battle-tested, but they were also tired.”

Couples, who had said this might be the last time he tries to qualify, opened with a 69 at Brookside, but a 72 on the Scarlet kept him out of the playoff by two shots. He didn’t sign his scorecard and was disqualified.

With an 11-man playoff for the final seven spots, Chad Campbell and Rocco Mediate were among those who made it through before darkness. Oklahoma State freshman Rickie Fowler was among three players who had to return Tuesday morning for two spots.

Carl Pettersson was the medalist at 131, followed by Bart Bryant at 134. Others who qualified included Ben Crane, Joe Ogilvie, Nick Watney, Jesper Parnevik and Dean Wilson. Kevin Tway, a former U.S. Junior Amateur champion and son of former PGA champion Bob Tway, also qualified.