DD...

Brian emailed me today, mocking my love of ol' David Duval, and I replied.  I took the time to research some things, and wanted to make a note of them while I was thinking about it. 


"If there is a bigger DD fan out there than me, then I’d be shocked. Truthfully, it’s rather embarrassing.


He’s has little, to no, likeable qualities. He’s ugly…his ears resemble Evander Holyfield’s - post Tyson bite…he walks with his hands facing forward as they sway (my buddy Eric King’s biggest pet peeve of him)…his chin goat is ridiculous, as well as his sunglasses…and he’s not exactly the nicest guy in the world.

Yet, I still root my tail off for him. My Thur and Fri at the office are usually only semi-productive when he’s playing, thanks to PGA Shottracker. When he hits a bad shot, I’m like his twin. I feel his pain too.

I think it all stems back in 1992, when he was in college and leading the BellSouth Classic heading into Sunday (only to shoot 79). Being a GT fan, and my golf game just starting to round into form, I instantly became a huge DD fan. Also, my only trip to Augusta (non practice round), was in 1998, when he had a 3-shot lead on 16 tee. He hits his iron on the top shelf, 3-putts and pars 17 and 18, and O’Meara birds 15, 17, and 18 coming in. Frickin’ O’Meara. I spoke with O’Meara on a flight in Ireland in 2001 (he was headed from Dublin to Shannon to do some fishing with “the kid”, i.e. Tiger, before the British), and I wanted to punch him in the face…multiple times. He was actually rather nice, but screw him. Frickin’ O’Meara.

At the end of the day, it’s still one of the more interesting storylines in the last 40 years in golf. Dude was #1 in the world at age 28 in 1999, and then back issues, vertigo, fiancée dumps him, confidence shot, new wife has rough pregnancy…and the ball flys all over the place. He lost 7 years, in the prime of his golfing career.


Some interesting stats:

Early years:

1995 – 1997: 57 of 78 cuts made – 39 top 25’s (69% of his cuts made), 3 wins (last three event so 1997)


In his prime:

1998 – 2001: 75 of 83 cuts made – 59 top 25’s (79% of his cuts made), 10 wins

*Counting the last 3 events of 1997 up to his British W (thank goodness for the major!), he won 13 times in 80 events…basically one out of every 6 events


Things starting to unravel:

2002 : 16 of 24 cuts made, 7 top 25’s (44% of his cuts made), no wins


The doldrums (age 32 – 38, which should be his prime):

2003 – 2009: 34 of 122 cuts made – 5 top 25’s, no wins


On the rebound:

2010 – 2011: 15 of 29 cuts made – 7 top 25’s, including top 25’s in 5 of his last 8 events.


So, we’ll see how the rest of the year plays out. I’m forecasting a DD W in 2011. I might streak down Windsor Parkway in the ‘buff in exuberance if that happens…"

There's always some good stuff on www.davidduval.net too.