Love leaves a star-studded field behind

Davis Love III overwhelmed the field with an eight-under-par 64 to win the $6.5-million Players Championship by six shots on Sunday.Love, wh...

Davis Love III overwhelmed the field with an eight-under-par 64 to win the $6.5-million Players Championship by six shots on Sunday.

Love, who also won here in 1992, earned $1.17 million in taking his second tournament of the season and the 16th of his career with a total of 17-under 271. Ireland’s Padraig Harrington (72) and 49-year-old Jay Haas(72) tied for second. Australia’s Robert Allenby jumped into a tie for fourth with Jim Furyk (69) by shooting a seven-under 65.

Love began the final round two shots behind Harrington and Haas, the third-round co-leaders. In windy conditions, Love managed one birdie in his first seven holes, but then birdied five consecutive holes.

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After hitting a three-wood left and into the trees on the par-five 16th hole, Love hit the green with his second shot, then sank a 15-foot eagle putt that gave him a nearly insurmountable five-shot lead.

World number one Tiger Woods hit three shots into the water, but still managed an even-par 72 and a tie for 11th.

Harrington’s runner-up finish was his best ever on the US PGA Tour.