All Duval Needs Now Is New Ending

He is the author of the unofficial book on how to lose the Masters (Greg Norman owns the official rights, of course) and it is clear that David Duval has written a sad tale. It is full of tragedy, unfulfilled promise, broken dreams and plain bad luck. Yes, the usual golf stuff.

Check the reviews from his last four works:

“Duval in 1998--’Heart-Wrenching’”

Duval has a three-shot lead with three holes to go, but makes a bogey at the 16th, Mark O’Meara gets a birdie at the 18th and Duval is forced to settle for a tie for second even though he closes with a 67.

“Duval in 1999--’Dream Weeper’”

Within one shot of the lead, Duval knocks his approach shot into the pond at No. 11, makes a double bogey and ties for sixth.

“Duval in 2000--’Cry Me a Rae’s Creek’”

Tied for the lead at the 13th hole, Duval can’t decide between a five-iron and a six-iron, goes with the five-iron and knocks his ball into the creek in front of the green. He ties for third.

“Duval in 2001--’Bye Bye Birdies’”

Tied for the lead after 15 holes, Duval three-putts the 16th for a bogey, then misses an eight-foot birdie putt at the 17th and a six-foot birdie putt at the 18th and is second even though he closes with a 67 again.

It’s enough to make Duval wonder if he’s allergic to dogwood. But with the Masters beginning Thursday at Augusta National, Duval seems far from tortured about his past Masters experiences. In fact, he was relaxed, confident and even semi-funny before he played his practice round Tuesday morning with Arnold Palmer and amateur Robert Hamilton.

“You know, I’ve kind of run the gamut,” Duval said. “I’m expecting some really good things this week. I think the thing that benefits the most is I know exactly what it feels like. I know how Sunday afternoon, how my body is going to react, what my emotions will be, and I think that can only help.”

In his last four Masters, Duval is a combined 31 under par and whatever his emotions tell him after posting two seconds, a third and a sixth, it’s possible they might tell him he’s ready to win it this time.

Defending champion Tiger Woods said he knows just what Duval has lacked at the Masters.

“Luck,” Woods said. “I’m not joking. You can’t afford to make mistakes down the stretch, but you’ve got to have some luck.

“David has put himself in position and either other players have beaten him or he made a couple of mistakes here and there. That’s just the nature of the game, but the key is to keep putting yourself there. And if he [does], he’ll get his green jackets.”

Right now, Duval would settle for one jacket. To acquire one, Duval says the most important lesson he has learned about being in contention Sunday at the Masters is to control his nerves, to try not to get excited.

“The adrenaline is so strong,” he said. “It feels like it’s the only place I’d ever want to be. You feel ecstatic and you feel sick at the same time ... a lot of amazing things go through your head and body that day.”

When he looks back at his other Masters, Duval says two of them stand out as occasions when he should have won, in 1998 and last year.

“Yes, I missed some putts on 16, 17, 18, but I made every one of them from one to 15, so I got a lot out of my round on that day.”

So far this year, that hasn’t really been the case for Duval. His best finish in a stroke-play event this year is a tie for 22nd at Bay Hill. In a three-tournament span, Duval withdrew from the Nissan Open because of flu, lost in the first round of the match play event at La Costa and missed the cut at Doral.

He tied for 28th at the Players Championship and tied for 34th in his last tournament, two weeks ago at Houston.

None of that matters if Duval plays up to his capabilities, a scenario he sees as likely.

“I feel like I’ve proven I can win here,” he said. “No, I don’t have a coat sitting upstairs in the locker, but under the circumstances of having a chance starting the final day, I’ve put up the scores.”

At least he has proven he can win a major. Last year at Royal Lytham, Duval won the British Open when he was 10 under the last two rounds. But despite his 65 on Saturday, he was still tied for the 54-hole lead with Bernhard Langer, Alexander Cejka and Ian Woosnam. Duval’s 67 on Sunday was within one shot of the low round of the day and when none of his co-leaders managed to break par, Duval won by three shots.

Duval says his bad back is a memory and he is as healthy as he has been in years.

“Nothing on me hurts,” he said. “I’m expecting great things, but at the same time, I’m not forcing it. I’m just trying to work my way back up there and take my time.”

The clock starts running Thursday.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Masters Facts

* Purse: $5.6 million.

* TV: Thursday, 1-3:30 p.m., USA; Friday, 1-3:30 p.m., USA; Saturday, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Ch. 2; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.- 4 p.m., Ch. 2.

* Last 10 winners: Tiger Woods (2001), Vijay Singh (2000), Jose Maria Olazabal (1999), Mark O’Meara (1998), Woods (1997), Nick Faldo (1996), Ben Crenshaw (1995), Olazabal (1994), Bernhard Langer (1993), Fred Couples (1992).

* Low round: 63 (Nick Price, 1986; Greg Norman, 1996).

* Record 72-hole score: 270 (Woods, 1997).

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Tee Times

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