Monday, October 2, 2000
Duval's next hurdle: Tiger Woods
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) — David Duval needed only one week
to answer two critical questions about his career — his back
is fine, and so is his game.
The next hurdle could take a little longer.
While Duval made a spectacular return by winning the Buick Challenge,
Tiger Woods was in the middle of his vacation.
“We all know Tiger Woods is the best player in the game,
and that he's better prepared than everyone else,” Duval
said. “You can talk about it until you're blue in the face,
but somebody's got to go out there and do something about it.”
Maybe that somebody will be Duval.
Strong enough to finish a tournament for the first time since
the British Open because of a sprained ligament in his back, Duval
made 16 birdies during the weekend, including three on the final
four holes, for a two-stroke victory over Nick Price and Jeff
Maggert.
It was his first victory of a season that, until Sunday, had been
a lost cause.
And there are still miles of ground to cover.
While Duval was flat on his back for six weeks while recuperating
in Idaho, Woods won three of the four tournaments he played —
the PGA Championship, the World Golf Championship event at Firestone
and the Canadian Open.
Duval won for the first time in 29 tournaments, dating to the
BellSouth Classic in the spring of 1999. During that span, Woods
won 16 times, including five majors, and nearly as much money
as Duval has made in his career.
“That's OK,” Duval said. “Eighteen months ago,
everyone was asking what's wrong with Tiger. Memories are short
out here, as they are in every sport.”
Eighteen months ago, Duval was the toast of golf.
While Woods was still trying to sort through an overhaul of his
swing, Duval won 11 times in a span of 34 tournaments and rose
to No. 1 in the world by winning The Players Championship in his
hometown.
Now, he is so far behind Woods in the world ranking that Duval
concedes — and a computer in London confirms — that
it will be at least two years before he can close the gap. His
victory at Callaway Gardens only solidified his spot at No. 3.
While Ernie Els was a runner-up in the first three majors this
year, and Phil Mickelson has already won three times this year,
Duval's 11 victories over 18 months is reason to believe he has
the best chance of trying to slow Woods' assault on the record
books.
That will have to wait until next year, when a new season begins
with a full slate of major championships before them. Duval, though,
seemed eager to get started.
“I'll do everything I can to be prepared,” he said.
“There's a lot of golf left this year that is important to
me.”
That starts Thursday with the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill,
where he has won two of the last three years. After the Presidents
Cup, Duval ends the year with the Tour Championship at East Lake
Golf Club in Atlanta.
And after playing in Woods' unofficial tournament in California,
Duval will join him for the World Cup in Argentina. As the No.
1 player in the world, Woods got to choose his teammate, and Duval
validated the selection Sunday.
But the real challenge starts next year.
“I definitely see this offseason as some soul searching for
a lot of people,” Hal Sutton said recently. “There are
some people with a great deal of talent out there that need to
find a way to challenge Tiger Woods.”
No one has ever questioned Duval's talent, which was on display
at Callaway Gardens. His short game was surprisingly sharp for
being off such a long time, and he routinely dug into the thick
rough with plenty of power, and no pain.
After four days of sound golf, no one should question his health.
“Today was the best I've felt in a long, long time,”
Duval said. “I'm finally playing without an injury. I feel
like I was lost for a while.
Everything that happened ... bounced the wrong way for me. This
makes me feel great about the rest of the year.”
Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address) of This Story
to A Friend:
|
