David Duval gets his fans feeling all hyperbolic again

Here’s a little-known fact about the PGA Tour: If David Duval breaks 70 during an event, it kick-starts a massive hyperbole machine, sending his fans into hysterics.

Duval, who was the No. 1 player in golf about 75 years ago, has put together a couple solid rounds at the Bob Hope Classic, sending his fans into a hyperbolic frenzy.

“As most people remember, DD put together a very promising comeback campaign in 2006. He’s only played one round, but it looks like he might be able to build on last year and make some serious noise in 2007,” wrote John Gorman at NetworkedGolfer.

Duval missed 13 of 24 cuts in 2006 and finished 172nd on the money list, and was forced to use one of his exemptions to stay on the Tour in 2007. You can call it a “very promising comeback campaign” if you like, as he only made one cut in 2005, but the fact is that it was a terribly weak season for Duval.

Still, it seems to happen every year - Duval cards a 68 or something and people start speculating that he’s on his way back.

“David Duval was only -1 today. Hopefully he’ll rebound and do great the next three days,” wrote Miranda at Even Par Round, ignoring the fact that a -1 is an achievement for Duval at this stage, not something he needs to rebound from.

Sadly for Duval fans, experts agree that Duval’s time and the top is done and few expect him to be much of a competitor on the Tour in 2007.

“He showed signs of improvement with three top-25s in 2006 a year after making just one cut, but top-25s are a long way from being in contention or winning. And with other priorities in his life – family, snowboarding, etc. – Duval doesn’t seem as interested in putting in the time it’s going to take to get his game back to where it needs to be to win,” wrote Brian Wacker, associate editor of GolfDigest.com.

At just 35, Duval has spent the last several years showing the golf world that he just doesn’t have it anymore, that he has enough money, and that his golf game is not at the top of his priority’s list. Could he win again on the PGA Tour? Sure. Hell, Corey Pavin won last year.

But for his fans, well, if you want to get behind a champion, try rooting for Lee Trevino, who has just a good a chance of returning to the top of the PGA Tour as Duval does. And while it’s nice to see Duval trying, and his participation is a positive for the game, just keep in mind that these days, Duval is much more John Daly than Tiger Woods, a sideshow rather than a champion.

–WKW