Ozaki Moves Into Lead, but Duval Is Chasing Him

One reason Joe Ozaki keeps coming to America is to prove he can compete against the best. He’ll get his wish this weekend in The Players Championship at Ponte Vedra, Fla.

The one member of his family who doesn’t mind playing outside Japan, Ozaki fired a four-under-par 68 on Friday and is in the same position he was last year--at 137, in the lead after two trips around the Stadium Course on the TPC at Sawgrass.

The difference is the guy behind him.

David Duval, the hometown hero and the hottest player in golf, missed a four-foot birdie putt on the 18th but still managed to piece together a three-under 69 for 138 and will be paired with Ozaki in the final group today.

“I’m very pleased with my score,” Duval said. “I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

He’s not the only one. If Ozaki cares to peek over his shoulder, he’ll find a star-studded group of players behind him.

Bruce Lietzke had a 68 and was two strokes behind, followed by Davis Love III and a pair of two-time U.S. Open champions--Ernie Els and Curtis Strange.

*

Bob Duval shot a career-best, nine-under 61, one stroke off the Senior PGA Tour record, in taking a four-stroke lead after the opening round of the Emerald Coast Classic at Milton, Fla.

David Duval’s father missed a seven-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have tied Asao Aoki’s record, set in the 1997 Emerald Coast.

The younger Duval is the author of one of only three rounds of 59 in PGA Tour history.

“I wanted to get to 60 so I could tell David he only beat me by one,” Bob joked. “I came here feeling real good because I played every day last week with David. . . . He just beat the hell out of me.”