Tuesday, January 26, 1999
Career might be looking greener for skillful golfer
STREET: Unknown David Duval has strong chance to give Tiger run
for his money, world ranking
You will probably never hear a child whispering to himself on a
Saturday morning: "I am David Duval." Likewise, you will never go
to a sporting goods store and buy a pair of Air Duvals, and dress
yourself in his signature Tommy Hilfiger shirts and wrap-around
sunglasses.
Duval is no Tiger Woods. He is not marketed as the messiah of
golf, and Woods can have that title all to himself in the pro shop.
On the golf course,though, it belongs to the former Georgia Tech
star who continues to play the world’s best golf. Period.
On Sunday at Arnold Palmer’s PGA West Golf Course in La Quinta,
Calif., all Duval did was fire a 13-under par 59, a score which
tied him for the lowest round in golf history. It also brought him
his second victory in as many tournaments in 1999, pushing his
earnings past the million-dollar barrier before the season is even
a month old.
The sixth-year pro birdied 11 holes and eagled the 18th to match
the record and claim the tournament by a stroke over Steve Pate. To
reach that point, Duval had sent a five-iron over a lake and up a
tiered green to within 6 feet of the hole.
Yet despite his historic round, Duval still trails Woods in the
world rankings (The same Tiger who hasn’t won a meaningful
tournament since the 1997 Masters). Duval, in the meantime, has won
nine of the last 28 tournaments he has entered, a staggering
percentage for a sport in which most players have more children
than titles.
He still has yet to capture his first major – the critics will
point out – unlike Tiger, who won in his professional debut at
Augusta National. Maybe this will be the year Duval breaks that
streak and finally dons the Green Jacket or hoists the Claret Jug.
Of course, many great golfers have gone longer without winning the
"Big One."
Maybe it is good for golf to have Tiger ranked number one. Every
extra point he garners sells another Tiger Woods golf shoe or video
game. It is estimated that some children who never would have
touched a golf club have been flocking to the links because of the
influence of the young, charismatic Woods. After all, how can you
go wrong with a golfer who has a stuffed tiger driver cover and
celebrates made putts with the raucous of a football game?
OK, so Duval doesn’t have the energy or charisma of Woods. But
he did pump his fist on the 18th at PGA West yesterday. And he did
show some emotion. He is the prototypical golfer’s golfer: all
business on the course, composed, calm and polite. Tiger may shoot
73 one day, but you know he can come back the next day with a 65.
Tiger always seems to do that. Duval will just give you mid to
high-60s and keep himself in contention. Boring, maybe, but
textbook tournament golf.
It is easy to label Woods as the greatest golfer in the world.
For many, he is the only golfer they recognize. Like Babe Ruth, he
has energized a sport and captured the imagination of a nation.
Every one of Tiger’s drives sail into the horizon like a Ruthian
home run. But wait, wasn’t there another? Ruth wasn’t even the best
overall player on his team. That honor would belong to the Iron
Horse, Lou Gehrig.
If it was Sunday at the Masters and Woods and Duval were playing
together in the final pairing, the Jacket on the line on this final
hole, you know your household would circle the television set to
watch Tiger rip it off the tee. You never know when Tiger might
just decide he can hit a driver 500 yards and reach the green. Fans
love to watch Tiger play because you can always expect the
unexpected.
Duvals’ tee shot would be the time to go refill your drink or
use the bathroom so you wouldn’t miss Tiger’s putt.
The irony of it all is that Duval would never want to be Tiger
Woods.
I’m sure he wouldn’t mind signing a $30 million endorsement
deal, but for a man who escapes the spotlight, the $4 million he
has won in the past two years will suffice. Thirty million is a
nice number, but Duval will take 59 any day and relax in his
ambiguity.
But he is still the world’s greatest golfer. The world rankings
may not say so, but in time they will. History has 20/20 hindsight,
and though Tiger Woods may usher golf into its financial golden
age, we will look back and remember 59 even when $30 million is
pocket change.
I’m just looking forward to April 11, when Duval and Woods
stride onto the 18th tee at Augusta tied, with the Green Jacket
awaiting them 500 yards down the fairway. I think I will go refill
my drink when Tiger hits, and wait for the high-pitched squeals
which accompany his drive.
Then I will sit and watch Duval, with his calm and composed
swing, and a few yells and awes pouring from the gallery
acknowledging this man’s greatness.
Babe Ruth may have been baseball’s hero, but at one time, Gehrig
was even better.
Scott Street shot 59 this weekend, too. On the front nine at
Riviera. E-mail comments to [email protected].
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