Davis Love attended the University of North Carolina before turning professional in 1985. He earned his PGA Tour card in the fall of 1985, on his first attempt. He quickly established himself on the PGA Tour, winning his first tour event in 1987. He was later to be in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings for over 450 weeks and reached a high of third.

Love has won numerous events on the PGA Tour, including the 1997 PGA Championship. He also won the prestigious Players Championship in 1992 and 2003. On November 9, 2008, he won his 20th career PGA Tour tournament, at the Children's Miracle Network Classic. This win gave him a lifetime exemption on the tour, at the age of 44. In 2011 he signed an endorsement deal with Bridgestone Golf. In January 2011, Love was named the captain of the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team.