1986 Masters: Davis Love III: All about the Nicklaus' caddie

Masters champion Jack Nicklaus walks down a fairway followed by his sons Michael, and Jackie who is also his caddy, during a practice round at the 1986 U.S. Open site at Southampton, N.Y. June 11, 1986. First round play was to begin two days later at the Southampton course.

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As mesmerizing as Jack Nicklaus’ ageless run at the 1986 Masters was, Davis Love III found himself more interested in the Golden Bear’s caddie than he was in Nicklaus’ march to victory.

Love had joined his father, renowned instructor Davis Love Jr., for a trip to Augusta National earlier in the week so the elder Love could work with one of his students, Peter Persons. By the time Sunday’s magical round had started, the Loves were back home in St. Simons Island, Ga., watching the finish on TV.

“To have been there and seen the tournament earlier in the week was special,” Love said. “Peter was one of my dad’s students and he wanted to watch him. But I remember seeing Jack and everybody else.”

Unlike most of a riveted nation, however, Love’s focus on Sunday was on Jackie Nicklaus. The two had just left the University of North Carolina, where they had been teammates and friends.

“The whole thing was very, very exciting,” Love said. “I was more excited watching Jackie caddie and get interviewed than I was for Jack. We’d just spent three years of school together and I thought that was pretty cool.”