Tiger Woods keeps money title as David Duval rallies to beat Davis Love

By Brad Townsend

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

HOUSTON - Tiger Woods' shoulders drooped dejectedly as he left Champions Golf Club late Sunday afternoon. He was convinced he had lost the PGA Tour money title to Davis Love III.

But while Woods headed to the airport, the drama was just beginning. David Duval rallied from a two-stroke deficit over the final six holes to snatch the season-ending Tour Championship from Love - and save the 1997 money title for Woods.

Duval did much more than spoil Love's bid to overtake Woods in the money chase. The PGA Tour-record $720,000 Duval earned Sunday vaulted him from No. 9 on the money list to No. 2. And Duval became the first player to win three consecutive PGA Tour starts since Nick Price in 1993.

Duval's 11-under total, sealed with a final-round 68, was one stroke better than second-place Jim Furyk. Love, needing a birdie on No. 18 to force a playoff, drove into the rough, hit his approach short of the green and bogeyed to finish two shots back.

"Don't ask me to comment about it," a relieved Duval joked afterward. "Everybody saw. It was a fun-packed day."

It was a momentous season for Woods, the 21-year-old Masters Champion. After tying for 12th Sunday, he finished the year with $2,066,833, becoming the first player in PGA Tour history to surpass the $2 million mark in a season.

Had Love won Sunday, he would have finished with $2,079,953. Instead, he finished behind Woods and Duval ($1,885,308), but ahead of fourth-place Furyk (1,619,480) and fifth-place Justin Leonard ($1,587,531) of Dallas.

"I would have liked to have finished a little better, obviously," Love said. "But it was nice to have at least made Tiger a little nervous there with a couple of holes to go."

By the time Love made the turn with a two-shot lead, Woods had left Champions. Woods knew that if Love won, Woods would have to finish no worse than a two-way tie for 10th. But after shooting a final-round 69, including a bogey on 18, Woods was in 12th. And he was certain Love would win.

"To have this good of year and not be on top really does hurt," Woods said before leaving, adding he would try to watch the tournament's conclusion en route to the airport. "I've played so well for most of the year, winning a major, winning four times, going over two million, to end up like this does hurt."

Fortunately for Woods, while 1997 will be remembered as his year, the season's final month will be remembered as Duval's.

To think: Until last month, Duval never had won a tour event, finishing second nine times. In his last three starts (he skipped last week's Las Vegas Invitational) Duval has earned $1,269,000. He was No. 32 on the money list before winning the Oct. 12 Michelob Championship (in a playoff) and the Oct. 19 Disney World Classic (also in a playoff).

"David's been close a lot of times," Love said. "He's been through a lot of situations that he's had a chance to win. It's just coming back to him now."

Duval and Love entered the final round in a first-place tie, along with Brad Faxon and Bill Glasson. But Love birdied the first two holes and led by as many as three shots.

But Duval tied Love with a 40-foot eagle putt on No. 13. Love, playing in the pairing behind Duval, saw Duval's eagle. He figured he needed at least birdie on 13, but parred it. When Love bogeyed No. 14, Duval was ahead to stay.

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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