He just thought it would have been four months earlier and about 150 miles east of Atlanta.

Love missed the cut at the Masters Tournament in April, but he's in the thick of things this weekend at the 83rd PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club's Highlands course.

The Sea Island, Ga., resident posted a 5-under 65 Saturday to position himself among the leaders heading into today's final round. The neck injury that unsettled him in the spring appears to be better, too.

''I was a little disappointed,'' said Love, who trails leader David Toms by seven shots. ''I was playing my best golf going into The Players and the Masters. My little injury setback just came at a bad time.''

A two-time runner-up at the Masters, Love entered the year's first major as one of the pretournament favorites. He left earlier than expected after shooting rounds of 71 and 75 to miss the cut by one shot.

After posting a tie for seventh the next week at the WorldCom Classic at Hilton Head Island, S.C., Love did not play a tour event for two months. He returned at the U.S. Open, where he finished tied for seventh.

To alleviate the pain, Love has tried an unusual cure: a change in his swing. After consulting with his teacher, he decided that he was keeping his head down too much when he swung.

''I hope now nothing is wrong with it, it feels so good,'' he said. ''I'm trying to split the difference between my head down and David Duval's head up, and it seems to be taking some pressure off. I hope it is that simple.''

Love's play was solid Saturday as he posted five birdies against no bogeys. After making a 40-footer for birdie on the first hole, he ran off nine straight pars. Then his putter found the range again with birdies on Nos. 11, 12, 14 and 15.

His score has gotten better each day. After opening with a 1-over 71, Love came back with a 67 Friday to make the cut. With low scores prevalent, he decided to take a more aggressive approach.

''I completely changed the game plan after the first day,'' he said. ''I think surprisingly enough, we are having to play this golf course more aggressively than we thought. It's not going to be like a U.S. Open that's hang on for dear life and make pars. I think you're going to have to make some birdies to win.''

Although Love is in sixth place, he has some ground to make up if he fancies winning his second PGA Championship. Love's 65 was posted early in the day, but 36-hole co-leader Toms matched that score with some impressive play, including a hole in one, on the back nine.

''I won a couple tournaments from six or seven back, so you don't want to be that far back but at least you won't feel that far out of it if you're six or seven back on a golf course like this,'' he said. ''You never know what's going to happen, and you never know how the leaders are going to feel.''

Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or jboyette@augustachronicle.com