Woods, Duval shoot for lowest scoring average
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
ATLANTA (AP) - While David Duval has all but wrapped up the
money title, the battle for the lowest scoring average on tour
could come down to the last hole at East Lake Golf Club this week
in the $4 million Tour Championship.
Duval, a four-time winner on tour this year, had a 3-over-par
75 in the final round of the Disney Classic last week, which allowed
Tiger Woods to regain the lead. Woods had a 70 on Sunday and finished
six strokes ahead of Duval.
Last week, Duval had a 69.02 average to 69.06 for Woods. Going
into the Tour Championship, Woods is back in the lead at 69.10,
compared to 69.14 for Duval.
Woods, who has won just once on tour this year, was asked which
was more important - the money title or the scoring average.
"Scoring average, by far," he said. "The money
title is based upon what you do in certain tournaments; certain
purses are better than others. I think a true measure of a player,
how good he is playing for an entire year, is stroke average."
Although scores are adjusted at every tournament based on field
performance, it appears Duval would have to finish four strokes
ahead of Woods to win the Byron Nelson Award for lowest scoring
average.
If Duval can pull it off, it would be only the fifth time since
1981 that a player has won the money title and the scoring average
in the same year. The others were Tom Lehman (1996), Greg Norman
(1990, 1995), Fred Couples (1992) and Tom Kite (1981).
That assumes that Duval wins the money title, which at this
point looks like a lock. The only player with a chance to catch
him is Jim Furyk, who would have to win the Tour Championship
and hope that Duval finishes 25th or worse in the 30-man field.
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