The art of captaincy

Davis Love III reveals the lessons he's learned leading the US team and why it means so much to him

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After a fifth PGA Tour triumph, Max Homa took the long trip from the Fortinet Championship at Silverado, in California's Napa Valley in the west, to the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow, North Carolina, in the eastern United States. Homa had just successfully defended his title at Silverado and he was the last man into Charlotte, arriving at the airport at 2.30am on the Monday morning. Waiting for Homa at arrivals were tour staffer Matt Horton and Presidents Cup captain Davis Love III.

"Max was like, 'What are you doing here?" recalls Love in an exclusive interview. "I said, 'I am helping with your luggage.' The next day Max said, 'I can't believe you came to meet me,' and I said, 'That's what we do." That day on the driving range, Homa's caddie had to step away for a few minutes, so Love picked up the towel and took over cleaning Homa's irons. "This is so weird," said Homa. "You're cleaning my clubs." Love replied: "You're going to catch on eventually." Sometimes actions speak louder than words, and these were the quiet, understated actions of a captain for whom a team of golf mega-stars wanted to give their all.

"Yes, we spoil the players a little bit, but we are also giving them the best chance to succeed on the golf course," claims the 58-year-old skipper, who was born in Charlotte. "I am not there to tell them what to do or to be a coach. I don't like giving speeches and I don't like sitting guys out, but obviously I can't play in these big events anymore and so I love to help these guys instead.