The Viking Classic got a commitment Wednesday from one of the PGA Tour's marquee players, sending a shot of enthusiasm from tournament headquarters in Madison to Viking's corporate offices in Greenwood.
Davis Love III, 43, winner of the 1997 PGA Championship, will play in the Viking Classic, which is Sept. 27-30 at Annandale Golf Club in Madison.
"It was instant elation when we got the word," said Dale Persons, vice president for public affairs at Viking Range Corp. "It was a joint effort between Viking, (tournament director) Randy Watkins and even Gov. Haley Barbour who put in a call to Davis.
"We are real excited to have Davis Love playing in the tournament. Not only is he one of the marquee players on Tour, but he's one of the most respected players on the Tour."
Love is available in late September because for the first time in 13 years he didn't make the Presidents Cup team, which plays the same week as the Viking Classic. Davis, who has 19 PGA Tour victories, has won't on Tour in the last four years.
Still, Watkins says his presence boosts the tournament's field.
"He's a future Ryder Cup captain, a future hall of famer," Watkins explained. "Our field is now by far the strongest field we've ever had."
Love is one of six major winners in the field, including John Daly, Steve Elkington, Todd Hamilton, Shaun Micheel and Bob Tway.
Elkington has won 10 times on Tour.
Two players in the top 30 on the money list, Boo Weekly (23rd) and Brett Wetterich (28th), are entered.
Nine others in the top 50 are in the field, including 2005 champion Heath Slocum (36th) and Bubba Watson (43rd), the Tour's leader in driving average at 315.2 yards.
