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Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
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Duval hits stride to make major gains
Source: Agencies |
June 24, 2009, Wednesday
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AFTER toiling away in the golfing wilderness for much of the last eight years, former world No. 1 David Duval has finally returned to the place where he believes he belongs.
The American, whose ranking has plummeted to 882 since he won the 2001 British Open, provided one of the most remarkable storylines at the US Open in Farmingdale, New York, before finishing tied second on Monday.
"It's what I want," Duval, 37, told reporters after surging into a share of the lead with three consecutive birdies on the back nine. "It may be arrogance but it's where I feel like I belong.
"I was glad to come up here and hit the golf ball and control myself like I've been saying I've been doing. I know I'm playing a lot better than my results have been showing.
"I stand before you certainly happy with how I played, but extremely disappointed in the outcome," the 13-time PGA Tour winner said after closing with a one-over 71 to finish two shots behind champion Lucas Glover.
Duval, who has not won since the 2001 Dunlop Phoenix in Japan, knocked in a three-footer on 14, a 14-footer on 15 and an eight-footer on the 16th green to join Glover in a tie for the lead.
With the packed grandstand behind the 17th urging him on, he failed to reach the green off the tee before horse-shoeing out from four feet with his par putt.
He then parred the last to finish at two-under 278, level with compatriots Phil Mickelson and Ricky Barnes.
It was his first top-10 on the PGA Tour since he tied for sixth at the 2002 Las Vegas Classic.
"I look back at what comes first, confidence or success," said Duval, whose slide from the pinnacle of the game in 1999 has been one of the most perplexing stories in golf.
"I was gaining confidence while I was having little success. But it's very difficult to sit here and say second place is a failure."
Just over a decade ago, Duval had eclipsed Tiger Woods as world No. 1 and appeared set for a long spell at the top.
He won four times on the 1999 PGA Tour and once the following year before clinching his only major at Royal Lytham. From that point on, though, his golfing stock tumbled as he struggled with his swing and injuries.
The American, whose ranking has plummeted to 882 since he won the 2001 British Open, provided one of the most remarkable storylines at the US Open in Farmingdale, New York, before finishing tied second on Monday.
"It's what I want," Duval, 37, told reporters after surging into a share of the lead with three consecutive birdies on the back nine. "It may be arrogance but it's where I feel like I belong.
"I was glad to come up here and hit the golf ball and control myself like I've been saying I've been doing. I know I'm playing a lot better than my results have been showing.
"I stand before you certainly happy with how I played, but extremely disappointed in the outcome," the 13-time PGA Tour winner said after closing with a one-over 71 to finish two shots behind champion Lucas Glover.
Duval, who has not won since the 2001 Dunlop Phoenix in Japan, knocked in a three-footer on 14, a 14-footer on 15 and an eight-footer on the 16th green to join Glover in a tie for the lead.
With the packed grandstand behind the 17th urging him on, he failed to reach the green off the tee before horse-shoeing out from four feet with his par putt.
He then parred the last to finish at two-under 278, level with compatriots Phil Mickelson and Ricky Barnes.
It was his first top-10 on the PGA Tour since he tied for sixth at the 2002 Las Vegas Classic.
"I look back at what comes first, confidence or success," said Duval, whose slide from the pinnacle of the game in 1999 has been one of the most perplexing stories in golf.
"I was gaining confidence while I was having little success. But it's very difficult to sit here and say second place is a failure."
Just over a decade ago, Duval had eclipsed Tiger Woods as world No. 1 and appeared set for a long spell at the top.
He won four times on the 1999 PGA Tour and once the following year before clinching his only major at Royal Lytham. From that point on, though, his golfing stock tumbled as he struggled with his swing and injuries.
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