Not Perry fair to slag Kenny

Jul 20 2008 By Brian Mcsweeney

DAVIS LOVE has defended his pal Kenny Perry's controversial decision to snub The Open and stay in the States.

Perry, one of the US Tour's hottest properties, has been slaughtered by fellow pros and fans for his decision to stay away from Birkdale this week and play a tinpot Tour event in Milwaukee.

The 47-year-old from Kentucky is arguably the most in-form star in world golf after winning three of the last seven PGA titles across the pond. He's only the second player to record a hat-trick of tourwins in 2008.

The other guy is the world No.1 and everyone knows why he's not at Birkdale.

But it's Perry's decision to snub Merseyside for Milwaukee that has left many fellow pros questioning his integrity and bottle.

Love refuses to jump on the Perry-bashing bandwagon though and defended his mate's decision.

The 44-year-old American, who fired a hugely creditable level-par 70 yesterday to leave him on plus nine, said: "If you don't want to come to The Open, don't come.

"Kenny is a good friend of mine, a great guy and a great Christian. He's doing what he wants to do and he's not complaining.

"That's the way to do it. This is the oldest and biggest tournament in the world and I want to be here. I'm happy to be here."

Love was relieved to beat the Birkdale winds yesterday and emerge unscathed from the battering.

He said: "It was nice to get a decent score. An under-par round would have been unbelievable but I'm happy with level par.

"They did the smart thing and moved the tees up today but they were still tough."