The first thing you gotta learn about this game is it ain't about hitting a little white ball into some yonder hole. It's about inner demons and self-doubt and human frailty … and overcoming all that crap.
-- Roy McAvoy, a.k.a. Tin Cup
No one understands the truth of that better than David Duval who, with rounds of 73-69, sits three back of leader K.J. Choi this morning. All but lost in the ruckus over the resurrection of Greg Norman is the emerging story of the man some once thought had the potential to be Tom Watson to Tiger's Jack Nicklaus. Or maybe vice versa.
It certainly appeared that way when he won the 2001 Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Anne's. The world's top-ranked player then hopped on a plane with Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Mike Weir and headed for Angus Glen in Markham, Ont., for the Skins Game.
In the temporary media centre at Angus Glen, a tired but jubilant Duval was uncharacteristically relaxed with interviewers, saying that a lot of fermented beverages had been quaffed from the Claret Jug on the trip from England.
While he would finish second to Singh in the meaningless exhibition, it appeared we were witnessing the start of something special. After all, the 29-year-old had 13 victories since turning pro eight years previously, including three in 1997 and four each in '98 and '99. In addition to the Open, he had won the Tour Championship and the Players Championship. Here was a warrior.
But Roy McAvoy was right. Duval's downward spiral was almost immediate and dizzying in its steepness: He would miss only two cuts in 20 starts in 2001, but eight of 24 in '02, 16 of 20 in '03, six of nine in '04, 19 of 20 in '05, 13 of 24 in '06 (which included a startling T16 in the U.S. Open), and three of seven last year. So far this season, he has made only two cut in 13 tries, and one of those was yesterday.
Today, as Duval teed off with defending Open champ Padraig Harrington, he was 1086 spots lower in the world ranking than he was just seven years ago. But much has changed. He is healthier and happier off the course, and appears to have regained the equanimity and confidence that characterized him in his heyday.
At 36, and, as Justin Leonard said, with the body of a 23-year-old and the mind of a 53-year-old, Duval could be poised to start putting that little white ball in some yonder hole with the enthusiasm and efficiency of 2001.
But…it ain't all about that, is it?
Equipment Notes: If you're wondering about the oversized putter grip used by K.J. Choi, it's a "Super Stroke" (www.superstrokegrip.com). I used one for a while on a Scotty Cameron Red X and it really does take the tension out of the hands. But it was a little too cumbersome to fit in my small carry bag, so I've reverted back to the standard size. Started using the "claw" grip a few weeks back and that accomplished much the same thing. Also, if you've been watching 2007 Masters champ Zach Johnson this week, you'll have seen the word "Dunning" on his rain gear. The company is based in Markham, Ont., and makes perhaps the best foul-weather apparel in the world.