David Duval looking the champion

You can see it in his walk. The way he carries himself. The ease of his conversations.

And, oh, yes, with there's that smile. The one that's lasted for nearly a month now.

We're not talking an ear-to-ear, flash-those-pearly-whites giddy kind of grin, mind you. More of a slight upturn at either side of his mouth followed by a few chuckles; a little reminder that David Duval did was a lot of folks figured he couldn't do - win a major title.

A new Double D? One that's a easy-going, a little softer around the edges and a not quite so sinister looking, even with the wraparound Oakleys?

"I'll stop it,'' he said laughing.

Meet your latest major champion. And maybe your next one, too.

A smooth-running little 4-under to open the week? A chip-in for par. A putt that 360s, jumps up and dives straight back in the hole?

"That,'' he smiled, ''was pretty cool.''

You want cool? Just look at Duval.

While Tiger was coming apart at the seams, Double D was going with the flow. A tree branch kicked his ball to safety. That 360. That chip-in. A flip shot to the ninth green that teased the hole before coming to rest a couple of feet away.

Those are the shots that used to try Double D's soul. A year ago, that branch would have sent the ball to OB land. The putt would have bounced out. The ball would have kissed the hole and flown 20 feet by.

Instead, Duval went to lunch tied for the lead in the 83rd PGA Championship, looking every bit like a man who could go two-for-two-majors.

OK. So he's tied with the world and there are 54 holes to go. Wanna bet against him?

He's not just in the driver's seat. He's in the cockpit and the final countdown is on.

The guy only hit half the fairways, but 13 of 18 greens. He made easy work of the 18th - that par-5 masquerading as a par-4 - with a 5-iron from 198 yards out. He's got the length this monster of a Highlands layout at Atlanta Athletic Club demands. As well as the patience.

Remind you of anyone? One of his close friends, perhaps, who was unraveling alongside him Thursday morning?

Tiger's opening 73 only served to emphasize just how good Duval's 66 was. The best two players in the game, two Ryder Cup teammates walking side-by-side down the with very different views as they head into the final three rounds of this final major of the year.

Duval walked onto the course dripping with the confidence that comes with wrapping his arms around the Claret Jug at Royal Lytham last month.

"It's just more confidence, as much as anything,'' he said, matter-of-factly. "As I told everyone for four straight years at Augusta and for some other events that I knew I had it in me. I proved that over there, and I think that it makes it easier going out there and playing now.

"But I just feel good about my golf and I feel like I know how to win these gold tournament and I know what it takes. So I go and play and don't get ahead of myself.''

The past few weeks have been fun, but a bit overwhelming. Just five days after his win at Lytham he strolled into a press conference at PGA TOUR headquarters in Ponte Vedra, Fla., with shorts on and the Claret Jug dangling from one finger.

"I guess some people might have expected somersaults and cartwheels on the last green and some people might have expected even less reaction, but you've got to sit back and look at it and realize that at that moment was the realization of 20-plus years of work.

"It was just kind of overwhelming to me and the accomplishment I felt. You know, coming off an injury last year that sidelined me for so long, starting out the year not playing great and then injuring my hand, my wrist and having to fight through another one of those, you know, I can walk away from this year feeling like it was a great year.''

One that could get even better.

A year ago, Duval was laying on his back on the floor of his living room in Ketcham, Idaho. He wasn't taking calls. He wasn't getting up unless it was to go to therapy or to go to sleep. All he could do was watch Tiger win his second PGA in a row.

Trust, him. This is a heck of a lot more fun. Suddenly, he's part of the center of attention. You couldn't move in the mob that was following him, Tiger and U.S. Open champ Retief Goosen. And he wasn't just an afterthought to those folks.

Even Tiger has said watch out when this guy wins a major. And Thursday, he knew he was right.

People are noticing what color cap he wears - he and Tiger were both wearing white with a Nike swoosh Thursday. How he walks. How he looks up for a second at impact on his swing.

"I think I look up just to clear out,'' he said. "just to get my head out of the way of my body.''

And now that he's got his first major is out of the way? Well, as we've said before, Duval has never been one to win in ones. He wins in bunches.

Now he even smiles.

And he doesn't plan to stop anytime soon.

Email this page to a friend