Joe Durant trying to step from the shadows

Joe Durant is an irritated millionaire.

Even though he is the only two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, with a record score at the Bob Hope Classic and a record weekend to win at Doral, Durant is starting to wonder what it will take for people to consider him more than just an average Joe.

His first victory came three years ago in the Western Open, a tough course and a strong field that included Tiger Woods, and he was regarded as a one-hit wonder.

``I can understand that,'' Durant said.

At the Hope, he had a 36-under 324 to set a PGA Tour record and felt he had put together one of the best weeks of his career.

``And then people are like, 'Well, it really didn't mean much because it was the Hope. It was in the desert and there was no wind.' What do you have to do?'' Durant said.

The next stop was Doral, where Durant made playing in the fierce winds look like a breeze. He made only one bogey the final two rounds, tied the final 36-hole record with a 12-under 132 and rallied from 4 strokes behind to win.

``If this doesn't do it, it's never going to happen,'' he said.

Joe Durant in action at the Genuity Championship. Allsport.

Durant could take care of any remaining doubts this week at The Players Championship against the toughest field in golf on one of the most demanding courses the best players will see all year.

``Light years ahead of the Hope,'' Durant said. ``Totally different ball game here -- length, rough, wind, water. Add them all up, it makes for a pretty stern test.''

The list of champions will attest to that. In the 27-year history of The Players Championship, only five winners have failed to capture a major championship. And most of those five almost count the Players as one, anyway.

``It's the biggest event of the year, I think, and the toughest event to win,'' David Duval said.

Durant is as good a bet as anyone.

The irritation that comes from people wondering whether he has proven himself doesn't last long. Durant is happy to be playing again, especially after taking time away from the game 10 years ago to sell insurance and pack boxes in a golf retail warehouse.

He is one of the best ball-strikers on tour, is hitting the ball longer than ever and his short game has vastly improved. That explains why Durant is leading the PGA Tour money list with more than $1.6 million and is more confident than ever.

``My confidence is up, but you still have to go out and shoot the score,'' Durant said.

No one is quite sure where Duval's confidence is, and he doesn't know if he will be healthy enough to shoot any score.

Duval developed tendinitis in his right wrist two weeks ago after four straight days of pounding balls on the range, trying to get fine-tuned for the biggest stretch of golf for him all year -- the Players and the Masters.

``The plan is to play golf this week,'' Duval said. ``If it goes backward and gets worse, then I'll have an MRI next week.''

Duval and Durant are polar opposites this year.

While everything seems to be falling for Durant, Duval can't seem to get a break.

A year ago, he was rounding into form when he hurt his back and had to sit out 10 weeks. He returned in style, winning his first tournament, but ended the year with a nasty split from Titleist that now involves a lawsuit and countersuit.

The injury -- from practice, of all things -- was the last straw.

``It stinks,'' he said. ``It seems like I've gotten into a little flow of bad things.''

In the meantime, he will continue his search for the rhythmic swing that took him to 11 victories in 34 starts not too long ago.

After rain soaked the Stadium Course on the TPC at Sawgrass earlier this week, the rough figures to be high and thick, and the course is playing longer without any roll on the spongy fairways.

``I'm not as prepared as I would like to be,'' Duval said. ``At the same time, I came back from 10 weeks off and won a golf tournament.''

What must be even more exasperating is to see other guys on the range whose idea of lifting weights is a pint of lager or a double cheeseburger, guys who have not been as prone to injury as Duval.

``I might just go back to the couch and eat Oreos and Doritos,'' Duval said.

With his luck, he might pull a muscle trying to open the bag.

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