October 26, 2009

Duval Is This Week's Bubble Boy

The trials and tribulations of David Duval are well-documented, and the former World's #1 now finding himself on the razor's edge of keeping or losing his PGA Tour Card for the 2010 season. That's because he dropped to 125th on the money list with only two events remaining in the PGA Tour's 2009 season, time grows short for those players on the edge of losing their full exemptions. One bad week and they could end up in Q-School, facing a grueling six day tournament where sometimes it would be better to have a cardiologist on the bag as opposed to a caddy.

Duval is down to his last chances. After his 2001 British Open victory, he questioned whether "this is all that there is." Since, his results have sunk to oceanic depths and his status in the world rankings with it. After his five year exemption for winning a major tournament expired, Duval has used a Top-25 career money exemption, a family crisis exemption and this year, he is playing on a one-time top-50 career money exemption. Now, he is down to do or not do if he wants to continue on the Tour - as in do well the next two weeks, or pack your bags for Florida and Q-School.

For Duval, this season has been one of extreme ups and downs. After his stellar showing in the US Open, Duval has has missed six of seven cuts. He tied for 63rd at the Buick Open was the only time he made it to weekend play, and even there he had lackluster results.

Duval has committed to play at the Viking Classic this week at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Mississippi. He'll need to make a strong showing there to move up or at best stay steady on the money list.

1 comment:

  1. What does Duval have to do, in your opinion, to make "a strong showing" ? Right now, he has his card. If he makes the cut and finishes top 40 or so, he'll likely move up.

    If not this week, he will be at Disney for the final week, and he has played very well there in the past, with a win in '97.

    I just hope his heart is in it.

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