Davis Love III talks Ryder Cup in return to RBC Heritage

They sang to Davis Love III in the RBC Heritage media center at Harbour Town Golf Links on Wednesday.

The five-time champion celebrated his 52nd birthday, and there was cake fittingly decorated with a Ryder Cup logo. Love is the U.S. captain of the team event, scheduled for September at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

His focus is on his golf this week, but he has plopped his bag down beside up-and-comers like Bryson DeChambeau on the driving range and is keeping an eye on players in the mix for a spot on his 12-man team.

At this point, the only lock in the points-based race is Jordan Spieth, who has almost double the points of No. 2 Dustin Johnson. With captain’s picks, Love’s options are numerous this time of year.

It is April, so I’m not really hung up on the points list,” Love said. “Like I said, we’ll start with Jordan and working our way down.”

Love said he will encourage anyone he feels has a chance at the team to travel to Minnesota for a practice round at Hazeltine.

Love was tapped as captain by a panel convened to address the U.S. struggles after an ugly loss to the Europeans in 2014 and the second-guessing of captain Tom Watson. Love captained the 2012 U.S. team that lost a large lead on the final day to lose by a point at Medinah.

The current captain said he has talked with assistants about better knowing what to say to players in certain situations.

In addition to Love’s success at Harbour Town, his golf course design firm is redoing Sea Pines’ Ocean Course, and he lives nearby in Sea Island, Ga.

Players bracing for tough conditions

Players are preparing for high winds and a chance of rain in the forecast as the tournament begins.

“Obviously the weather looks a little dicey the next two days, so I hope to survive the weekend and have a chance to win,” said Kevin Kisner, who lost a playoff to Jim Furyk here last year.

Kisner noted the wind combined with greens already firm from a renovation last year would require more thought. A shot he played about 20 feet short of the pin on No. 7 during his Wednesday pro-am round ended up 40 feet past the hole, he said.

“Straight downwind, you just can’t get the ball to stop,” he said. “You’ll see a lot of guys to play short — the best way is to be chipping up the greens.”

Bohn encouraging others to have hearts tested

Jason Bohn, who is making his first start since a heart attack in February, said he has encouraged all of his friends to see a cardiologist. The 42-year-old golfer suffered a major blockage of a vital artery and spent five days in the hospital.

“I’ve gotten a lot of response from that,” Bohn said Wednesday. “A lot of people have said, ‘Hey, I wouldn’t have done this. My physio (therapist) went, and he just found out yesterday he’s going to be put on medication. They found an irregular heartbeat. It’s neat to hear those stories.”

Bohn said he enjoyed being home with his family but that he missed competing in golf tournaments.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Davis Love III talks Ryder Cup in return to RBC Heritage."