US Tour: Davis Love III, with next week's U.S. Open at the back of his mind, has his sights set on a fourth PGA Tour title of the year at this week's Capital Open at the Tournament Players Club at Avenel.

The world number three has been one of the game's form players during 2003 and, with wins at Pebble Beach, the Players' Championship and the Heritage Classic already under his belt, will be a leading contender at Olympia Fields next week.

"I've come out this year feeling better, feeling stronger, and with a new commitment to working on my attitude, my routine (and) my off-course mental preparation," said the 39-year-old from North Carolina. "That's what has kept me going."

His most impressive victory of the year came at the prestigious Players' Championship at Sawgrass, widely regarded by the players as golf's 'fifth major'.

He overwhelmed the strongest field in the game with an eight-under-par 64 on the last day to win the $6.5 million event by six shots. Love, who also won the title 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.

"If that's what the back nine of a major championship feels like with a lead, at least I know how it feels now," he said after his triumph, before going on to tie for 15th at the U.S. Masters in his next start.

The very next week, Love won the Heritage, edging out Woody Austin at the fourth extra hole, and few would bet against the 1997 U.S. PGA champion winning again this week from a field including only two other players in the world's top 10.

World number six Phil Mickelson and Ireland's seventh-ranked Padraig Harrington are also playing at the Tournament Players Club, as is defending champion Bob Estes, currently ranked 18th.

Estes won last year's title, the fifth of his PGA Tour career, with a closing round of one-under-par 70 for a one-shot victory over the 1999 winner Rich Beem, who fired a two-under 69.

However, Fred Couples, one of the bigger names in the initial field, will be absent this week after continuing back trouble forced his withdrawal on Monday.

The 1992 U.S. Masters champion, who was a popular winner of this year's Houston Open, could also be sidelined from next week's U.S. Open.