Davis Love aiming to improve Open performance

For the fifth-best golfer in the world Davis Love's British Open record makes pretty grim reading but he insists it is not through a lack of trying.

In his first 10 attempts the American missed the cut six times and had other finishes ranging from tied 95th to a best of tied 23rd.

The last four years have seen a considerable improvement -- 10th, seventh, tied seventh and tied for 11th last year -- and the 37-year-old former US PGA champion says it is all to down to experience.

"You have to learn how to play the game over here," said Love, who stopped off at Turnberry at the weekend to brush up on his links play.

"You learn how to bounce it, how to putt on these surfaces, which are different, learn about the wind, and you learn that you have to be a bit more patient.

"It all takes time but it's becoming more natural."

Love, who also has two second place finishes in the Masters and one in the US Open, dismissed the suggestion that his early poor form was a result of his not liking British conditions after being spoiled by the manicured courses and warm sun of the US Tour.

"I've always loved it, maybe too much," he said.

"The years you come over and qualified and sometimes you burn yourself out a little early.

"But it was really just not knowing how to play here."

Love arrives for his 15th Open in good form having followed up his AT&T victory in February with a good second place in last week's Western Open.

"I'm playing well and I'm trying to carry on the momentum," he said.

"This will be my third time at Lytham and that helps. I'm excited to be here and that's always a good sign."

Love said the Lytham rough matched Carnoustie's infamous growth of two years ago but said this was a much fairer test of golf.

"The rough is very, very deep, but the fairways are a bit wider and if you drive fairly well you'll be clear of it," he said.

"But I lost a ball today so I'm going to be relying on the marshals and the gallery on Thursday."

Love, the second-longest driver on the US Tour behind John Daly, hoped that he could still take advantage of those extra yards despite the risks.

"If you can be patient, use a lot of irons on the tees for four days, then the long-hitters like myself might be able to beat up a few of those par-fives when the wind blows right," he said.

"But you have to hit it straight here if you want to win it. There is no substitute."

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