The split between David Duval and Titleist became official when Duval's camp
sent a letter informing Acushnet Co. that it was terminating the
contract, and Acushnet filed a complaint Friday in Massachusetts
seeking damages.
Duval has been playing the Nike Tour Accuracy ball and is close
to signing a deal as soon as the legal wrangling is over.
Duval declined repeatedly to discuss why he is leaving Titleist.
"I'll be glad to tell you all you want to know when this is over,''
he said.
Tiger Woods, whose $100 million contract with Nike includes a
cut of the profits, said having Duval aboard would be good.
"Right now, it's logistically not the best thing for him, all
the stuff he's got to go through,'' Woods said.
Woods said Nike consulted him first about the possibility of signing
Duval.
"They just wanted my opinion,'' he said. "I think it would be
a great fit for both sides, both David as well as Nike.''
In the meantime, Duval is without a sponsor.
He is wearing shirts from Pablo Creek, his home golf course in
Jacksonville, Fla., and a cap with Sun Valley on it (he has a second
home in Idaho). He also is carrying a lightweight bag from his days
at Georgia Tech.
He actually had to pay for the shirts.
"They picked out a bunch of them for me and said, 'We'll just
put it on your bill,' " Duval said, hand on hip in mock anger. "Can
you believe that?''
