David Duval confident over title defence

The tall grass and pot bunkers brought back fond memories for David Duval. He's not in Lytham anymore, but those unique characteristics of links golf made him feel at home at Muirfield as the British Open champion.

``It's nice to be back,'' he said Monday after his second practice round at Muirfield. ``The year went by quickly, but it seems like a long time ago because of how my season has gone.''

Indeed, this year must feel like an eternity.

Duval has missed the cut six times this year, including three in a row for the first time in his career, and has finished in the top 10 once on the PGA Tour.

A year ago, he won his first major at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, closing with rounds of 65 and 67 on the weekend for a three-stroke victory.

Asked his assessment of Muirfield, he said, ``Pure, dude. What else can you say?''

``There's a lot of room in some places and not much in others,'' he said. ``It's fair.''

Unlike Tiger Woods, who primarily hit a 2-iron off the tee during his practice round, Duval said he hit a driver six times. Sure, that brings some of the hazardous fairway bunkers and thick rough into the equation, but Duval prefers that risk to the alternative.

``Otherwise, you have to hit 2-iron into the green,'' he said. ``You have topick your poison, but I like the fact you get that option.''

AZINGER OUT

Paul Azinger withdrew from the British Open on Monday, citing an undisclosed injury.

His manager from Leader Enterprises said in a letter to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club that Azinger suffered a ``minor injury'' and was unable to play.

Azinger, who has not won since the Sony Open in Hawaii two years ago, was the 54-hole leader at Muirfield in the 1987 British Open. He closed with a2-over 73 and finished one stroke behind Nick Faldo.

OH, BABY

Tiger Woods is playing for the first time since the U.S. Open because he was sick. Jim Furyk has not played since Bethpage Black for another reason.

He's a new father.

Furyk's wife, Tabitha, delivered their first child June 24, a girl they named Caleigh Lynn.

He said his daughter's collarbone was broken during birth, but it is healingquickly and is not expected to present any problems.

REDEFINING HISTORY

Nick Faldo won his first major championship at Muirfield with a remarkable final round -- 18 pars.

It would seem such consistency defined his control, only Faldo offered a different perspective 15 years later.

``It wasn't planned,'' he said. ``People said, 'That was Faldo -- dead, boring, look at him.' But I was choking on every putt. I couldn't get the thing in the hole.''

When asked if anyone could win a major these days by making nothing but pars in the final round, he replied, ``No. They're not that bad.''

``You have to make six birdies now to win a major,'' he added.

CENTURY MAN

Lee Westwood of England, once a perennial favorite in the majors among European players, arrived at the British Open with some unflattering news.

He dropped out of the top 100 in the world ranking.

Westwood, who has not won in nearly two years, is No. 102 in this week's ranking. He reached his highest level 14 months ago at No. 4, and even last year was No. 8 going into the British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

The 29-year-old Westwood has shown signs of improving in recent weeks, however, with top-20 finishes in the Irish Open and European Open. He missedthe cut last week at the Scottish Open.

FALDO IN MOSCOW

Nick Faldo is bringing his golf business to Russia.

Faldo said he has an agreement with the United Golf Federation of Russia to open a golf academy, design an 18-hole course and build a ``Jug and Jacket'' restaurant in Moscow.

``There's only 27 holes in Moscow, and I've just won the contract to put a new 18 holes in there,'' Faldo said. ``I think we're only five miles from Red Square.''

He also is building closer ties with his Faldo Junior Series golf tournaments and the European Junior Golf Tour, of which the Russian federation is a founding member.

``I think golf has a great future in Russia,'' Faldo said.

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