ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia – Dru Love first beat his father in the summer of 2014. It’s easy to remember the details when your dad is a 21-time PGA TOUR winner.

“On 18, he made a 40-footer and I made a 30-footer for eagle,” recalled Dru, the son of Davis Love III. “After mine went in, we looked at each other and he said, ‘What was that one for?’ I said, ’65. What was yours for?’ He said 66 and turned around and walked off.

“So I’ll never forget that one.”

Dru won’t forget his next two rounds with his dad, either. Dru, a 21-year-old junior at Alabama, will make his PGA TOUR debut at this week’s The RSM Classic (formerly known as The McGladrey Classic) after receiving a sponsor exemption. Dru shot 3 under Sunday at Sea Island’s Plantation Course to win a 4-for-1 qualifier for the exemption.

“I hope to prove that I was worth the chance,” Dru said.

Father and son will play in the same group for the tournament’s first two rounds. Dru’s former Alabama teammate, Justin Thomas, rounds out the threesome. Thomas, who won last month at the CIMB Classic, has stayed with the Loves for years while playing tournaments in the area. He is in their house again this week, though he got bumped from Dru’s room when Dru qualified for the event.

Davis is the host of the PGA TOUR’s stop in Georgia’s Golden Isles, which benefits the Davis Love Foundation. He’s also the elder statesman on this sleepy island about 90 minutes north of Jacksonville, Florida. Davis resided in the area before TOUR pros flocked like the swallows of San Juan Capistrano.

The proliferation of professional golfers in the area means there's an abundance of qualified locals who would like to receive a sponsor exemption into The RSM Classic, the final PGA TOUR event of 2015. Davis likes to hold a qualifier for one of the invitations; he put Dru in that qualifier instead of handing him an exemption.

In the qualifier, Dru beat Josh Teater, who played on the PGA TOUR from 2010-2014; Cory Whitsett, who represented the U.S. at the 2013 Walker Cup; and Drew Weaver, who finished eighth on this year’s PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit. Patton Kizzire, who finished No. 1 on this year’s Web.com Tour money list, earned a similar exemption via last year's qualifier (he finished T54).

Dru won this year’s Georgia Amateur on Sea Island’s Seaside Course, The RSM Classic’s host course (each player will play one round on the Plantation, as well). Friends and family tried to convince Davis to give Dru an exemption after that victory, but Davis relented.

Dru has the benefit of making his PGA TOUR debut on his home course. He was even giving his father, who won the Wyndham Championship in August, advice on club selection in their practice round. Dru has competed on both courses in amateur events and won the Sea Island club championship.

“It’s a comfortable place for him,” Davis said. “(He’ll) be uncomfortable maybe on the first tee, but I think once we get him off the first tee – get his dad off the first tee – we’ll settle down and have fun.”

Like his father, Dru is a tall player who’s known for his length off the tee and ability to make a lot of birdies. Dru, who stands 6-foot-5, is nicknamed “Bigfoot.”

“Let’s just swing for the fence for a while and then we’ll kind of reign you in later on,” Davis told his son when he started playing golf.

Dru won his first college tournament at the Puerto Rico Classic in February, on the same day that his father was named U.S. Ryder Cup captain for a second time. Dru struggles with his consistency, though.

“He makes more birdies than most people I play golf with. He's like his dad. He makes a few bogeys here and there, too, but he's got a lot of potential,” Davis said.

Dru made birdie on his first four holes in Sunday’s qualifier, then sealed his spot by hitting his second shot on the par-5 18th to 15 feet.

“I wasn't worried about playing in The RSM Classic. I wasn't worried about playing in my first PGA TOUR event,” Dru said. “I just wanted to get out here in front of all my family and friends and share the experience with all them. More importantly, I just want to try to go beat him again.”