By Matt Slater and Alistair Watkins
BBC Sport at Royal Troon |
Love, who finished tied for fourth at last year's Open, holed his second shot from 190 yards to surge up the leaderboard into a share of fifth.
The American had started the day by dropping back to level par after a bogey at the opening hole.
But three birdies revived his round and his brilliant finale lifted him higher.
Despite his final-round surge, Love said he had not been at his best this week.
"I had some bad holes and didn't play to the best of my abilities. But I ground it out and got a good finish," the world number five said. But Love was delighted with the shot he holed for eagle at the last.
"I said to my caddie we'll try to make two and hang around for a while. And I did. It was a big six iron but I got a bit of help with wind," he said.
Scott Verplank fired a level-par 71 to finish at four under and a share of seventh place.
His round featured two birdies and two bogeys, but he did enough to keep his name high up the leaderboard to finish the fourth-best American player.
Skip Kendall, who led the event after the second round, recorded a 72 for a two-under total and a share of 11th.
He blamed his poor third-round 75 for his failure to maintain his challenge.
"I'm disappointed overall," he said. "After the position I was in after the second day, I am disappointed with Saturday's round more than anything."
Former Troon champions Mark Calcavecchia and Justin Leonard finished strongly to climb the final leaderboard.
Calcavecchia, the winner here in 1989, carded a three-under 68 to finish on two under for the championship.
Leonard, the 1997 champion at Troon, shot a 71 to finish on level par.
The 32-year-old Texan birdied the difficult par-three 17th to ensure a top-20 finish.
Stewart Cink was another American to enjoy a good final day at the Ayrshire links. The 31-year-old carded a 69 to climb to one-under for the championship.
Kenny Perry, the world number 12, posted a one-over 72 to join Leonard on level par for the week.
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It was a big six iron but I got a bit of help with wind 
