Duval U.S. Open's most unlikely story
Jun 23, 2009
When I look back at the 2009 U.S. Open my first thought won’t be of Phil Mickelson’s mission for Amy, or Ricky Barnes’ final-round collapse.
I won’t marvel at Lucas Glover’s 18-hole high-wire act, Farmingdale, Long Island’s biblical weather, or Tiger Woods’ inability to make even half of the putts he’s used to during a major.
Instead, my memory of June 22, 2009 will begin with the re-emergence of a golfer whose presence hadn’t been felt on tour since 2001 – David Duval.
Despite playing the first three holes of his final round four over par, the one-time world’s number one managed to turn his fortunes around.
Before letting +4 for the day turn into +10, the 6-foot tall Jacksonville, FL native re-gathered himself and birdied the par-5 fourth.
Fast-forward a few hours and all of a sudden three straight birdies on 14, 15, and 16 gave Duval a shot at his second major championship - though a bogey on the 17th followed by par on the last dropped him into a tie for second.
Hmm – “dropped into a tie for second.” I don’t think anyone thought we’d ever say those words about the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket again.
This is a man, remember, who hadn’t even registered a top-20 finish since the Deutsche Bank Championship in September of 2004.
His last win was at the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s.
How long ago was that?
A guy named Roger Federer had yet to even make it past the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament.
The $559,830 check that Duval will get to cash tomorrow morning is more than all of the earnings he’s registered on tour since 2006 - combined.
A sit-down brunch with Big Foot would be only slightly more unexpected than Duval’s presence at the top of a leaderboard these days.
This has, without a doubt, been one of the most memorable weeks in the history of the U.S. Open – a tournament that has been contested for 114 years.
Even with 19 tour wins and a major championship on his resume, Duval’s journey back to relevance in his sport must have felt like longer than that.
