Tiger Woods thinks Duval is the big threat

For once, even Tiger Woods was momentarily speechless.

The question was how does he view his rivalry with Sergio Garcia. Incredulously, he asked: "What? It's no longer with David Duval?"

To his credit, Woods, at his masterful, PR best, then spent the next five minutes hailing the 19-year-old Spaniard as a world-class talent.

But for Woods it seems there is only one obstacle in his way - and that is fellow American Duval.

The pair have wrestled for glory all season, swapping top spot in the world rankings at regular intervals.

Woods currently sits in pole position, but knows one slip and Duval will be back. They are men from different backgrounds, but both steeled with a brutal desire to be the best.

It is the most intense rivalry since Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer went at each other in the 1960s. And the gladiatorial, head-to-head element is good for golf.

"They were always being paired off, and it's now the same with David and I," said Woods.

Woods returned to the number one spot after winning in America last month. And he puts it down to a new outlook of increased maturity and patience.

Woods added: "I've enjoyed David's arrival because it has taken a lot of pressure off me. It has allowed me to relax and play golf again."

It was the burden of being one of the world's most recognisable sportsmen that witnessed the Woods wobble.

That allowed Duval to muscle in, using his rival's loss of confidence to rack up titles and millions of dollars.

But now Woods is back in the swing. Literally.

He said: "I'm still young, but have grown up. I have changed my game, changed my outlook on life. I've become accustomed to travel, being a person people recognise. I accept now that I can't hit miraculous shots all the time. I've learned you can't force the situations.

"The problems I once had with crowds has died down. The fans aren't as aggressive as they used to be.

"I still get the occasional outbursts, but they are spread out. There are always going to be people who want attention."

Unlike Woods, Duval is a man who shuns the attention. The spotlight to him is a nightmare. He lived up to his reputation as a loner yesterday when he snubbed a press conference, giving no reason to the Royal & Ancient.

Duval is a world away from the neon smile of Woods.

He still blames himself for the death of his brother and of the divorce of his parents - after those heartbreaks he retreated into a hard shell and few will break through it.

Golf was his life and he became exceptional. But there is one statistic Duval will need to change if he is to convince the world he is a permanent fixture among game's elite - and that is to win a major. Duval has a habit of startling people. He will say nothing for weeks and then reveal his favourite book is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

He cherishes all 20 volumes, all 21,730 pages of his Oxford English Dictionary, and can picture himself walking away from golf one day, never playing on the Senior Tour and ending up in a bookstore cafe or a backwoods bait and tackle shop.

To understand Duval you go back to his childhood and his adoration of big brother, Brent.

He did not hesitate when offering part of his bone marrow when his brother needed it. He blamed himself when it did not work. He was nine at the time.

He then blamed himself when his parents separated, believing if the transplant had worked they would still be all together as a family.

Duval refused to see a therapist or his brother's grave after the first few visits and refused to speak of what happened until one day when he asked his mum: `Can I move into his bedroom?'

Now a major awaits. He missed out on the US Open after fading badly in the final two rounds and he is determined not to do the same at the oldest and finest championship of them all.

"From that standpoint, it is something I really want, something I want to put on my resume at some point," he added.

"Hopefully, it will be in the near future. If it's not in the next few days, it will be a year and four days."

Bookies have made Woods favourite for the 128th Open at 5-1, with Duval second at 12-1.

The odds are about right. Woods has far more experience on links courses, particularly Carnoustie, having played it twice as an amateur in the Scottish Open.

He said: "I love the place. Coming from California and good weather every day, I like it when the weather changes. I like new challenges.

"I like the idea of one day hitting a driver off the tee and a six-iron the next. I'm much more prepared to play golf under links conditions. I've got experiences to call back on.

"I also think the length I hit a ball will be an advantage here. I will be able to hit a two-iron or three-wood off the tee as far as some guys can hit their drivers."