FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — No. 882 in the world, No. 3 at the U.S. Open with 16 holes remaining.
David Duval doesn’t qualify as one of those out-of-nowhere stories at Bethpage Black. He has captured a major championship already, prevailed in 13 PGA Tour events and won four times in a three-month span 10 years ago on his way to spending 15 weeks as the world’s No. 1- ranked player.
A series of ups and downs — mostly downs— derailed his game since.
So here he is, with pins honoring the New York State Police and the Fire Department of New York on either side of his collar, in position to return this morning with a shot at a stunning U.S. Open victory. He’s 2-under-par through two holes of the final round, in a four-way tie for third place and thickly in the hunt.
“I’ve been there before,” Duval said. “It’s not like a distant memory.”
Not for him, it isn’t. But he wants his wife and kids to be able to see him competing for wins at the highest level now — and not in the 10-year-old video footage.
Quiet confidence.
Lucas Glover was quick with a one-liner when asked about the reserved crowd reaction at the rain-drenched U.S. Open when he pulled within a stroke of third-round leader Ricky Barnes.
“He’s got cooler pants than me,” Glover said, joking about his playing partner’s plaid slacks that were as loud as Barnes’ newfound fans at Bethpage Black.
“I don’t think there’s very many people that think I can or will (win) it anyway, so that’s fine,” said Glover, the 29-year-old who won his lone tour title in 2005 at Walt Disney World.
Tweet and click.
Ian Poulter has been tweeting at the U.S. Open, but Sunday might have been the most unusual tweet of them all. He posted a picture of his golf ball on the 10th fairway, speckled with mud.
Poulter has been critical of the USGA for not allowing preferred lies (lift, clean and place) in wet conditions.
But the USGA said the picture was not a violation.
“As long as it’s not being used to gather information that would help him,” USGA rules official Wendy Uzelac said.
Change in plans.
Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade were to host the CVS Charity Classic but found themselves searching for replacements.
The two-day event starts today, with Camilo Villegas and Bubba Watson as the defending champions. Both made the cut at the U.S. Open and will be at Bethpage Black until they finish.
