Davis Love III to have hip-replacement surgery

"I had a hip problem [for] the last few years, and I had a hip resurfacing trying to avoid hip surgery because I'm a chicken," Love told reporters at the RSM Classic.

"But after playing [last month in the CIMB Classic in Malaysia and the PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship],I realised it was an uphill battle."

Doctors have told Love, 53, it will take 3-4 months for a full recovery, but he could start chipping in a month, he said.

The victorious 2016 Ryder Cup captain, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame earlier this year, has a two-fold goal: to return to the PGA Tour by March and then become the oldest tournament winner in the tour's history.