celebrity writers

David Duval On The Way Back Up

A profile of the former world number one golfer and his comeback

Feb 8, 2007

David Duval, once the best golfer in the world, saw physical, personal and confidence issues push him into oblivion. This year, it looks like he may be coming back.

Since Tiger Woods took the golf world by storm, there have been few other players to sit atop the world rankings. David Duval was one of those. Not long after his win in the 2001 British Open, Duval's golf game began a rapid downward spiral. He attributed his lack of production to nagging back problems that caused him to alter his swing and lost confidence due to an inability to score. Unwilling to quit in his prime golfing years, at age 35 he is in the infancy of resurrecting his game and regaining his form. He has made it to the weekend in two of his three tournaments this year.

Name: David Robert Duval

Born: November 9, 1971 in Jacksonville, Florida

College: Georgia Tech

2006 Money List Ranking: 172

Current 2007 World Ranking: 366

Awards and Highlights:

U.S. Junior Amateur Champion, 1989
Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, 1993
College Coaches Association Player of the Year, 1993
Four-time NCAA All American Golfer
Turned professional, 1993
Byron Nelson Award, 1998
Vardon Trophy, 1998
PGA Tour Money Champion, 1998
British Open Winner, 2001
19 PGA Tour Victories
24th on Career Money List

A Golfing Life: The son of golf professional and Champions Tour player Bob Duval, David has always been involved in the game. After a championship-caliber junior career, he continued his success at Georgia Tech where he captured several ACC and NCAA awards before turning pro in 1993. After two seasons on what is now the Nationwide Tour, he made his PGA Tour debut in 1995. Although he didn't win immediately, his play was steady and strong to the point of earning him a spot on the Presidents Cup team in 1996. From there his career skyrocketed before crashing in 2002.

2007 Selected Statistics:

Driving Distance - 65th (288.4)
Putting Average - 20th (1.730)
Holes Per Eagle - 34th (99)
Final Round Scoring Average - 71st (72)

Enough has been said by every sports publication and media outlet about his demeanor, attitude and the reasons for his fall. What is clear is that David Duval is a serious intellect and thinker, not only on the golf course, but in general. He is also a world-class athlete.

It's good to hear him say that his swing is possibly better than it's ever been. Here's to David and his arrival once again among golfing elite.

The copyright of the article David Duval On The Way Back Up in PGA Tour is owned by Alan L. Hammond. Permission to republish David Duval On The Way Back Up in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.