ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- The golf world clamors for a rival, searching in vain for someone, anyone, to knock Tiger Woods off his lofty perch -- or at least make it wobble.
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| David Duval matched the best round of the tournament with a 66 on Saturday. |
Challengers meekly step up to Woods' rock-solid foundation, trying to chisel away with a spoon. No sooner do they start to carve out some granite, and they're back looking for another utensil for the task.
Back to try again is David Duval, the erstwhile challenger to golf's most accomplished player.
Remember when Duval was actually the No. 1 player in the world, when he had captured 11 PGA Tour titles in 34 starts, when he was the player Woods was trying to catch? It was so long ago, the Old Course was middle-aged.
Yet now, after more than a year without a victory, Duval is in position to challenge the mighty Woods, even it's from a distance. For the first time in their careers, they will be paired together in the final round of a major championship, 1-2 in the field, 1-2 in the world.
Duval got there with a birdie at the final hole at the Old Course, shooting a 6-under 66 in the third round of the British Open, although he is six strokes back.
"You get to look him in the eye," said Duval, who appears to be one of the few willing to do so. "If I can swing the golf club like I have the last few days and putt like I have, I can show him I've got a little game going right now, too.
"To get in that last group of the Open Championship with undoubtedly the best player in the world right now is an experience you want to have. ... It will be a circus. It will be exciting. It will be a slugfest, whatever you want to call it. But I wanted to make sure I gave myself the best chance to get there."
It remains a daunting task. The streakers who tried to storm the course on Friday got closer to Woods than Duval is now.
And the bare fact remains that Woods is nearly unbeatable with a 54-hole lead. He is 18-2 worldwide in his career and is on the verge of winning his 13th PGA Tour event in 23 starts, his 21st overall.
At age 24, Woods already has more victories than any active player on the PGA Tour who is not a senior. And if he prevails at the Open Championship, he'll be tied for 25th all time with Gary Player, Lanny Wadkins and Craig Wood, just one behind Raymond Floyd.
Tiger lose? There's a better chance of seeing Old Tom Morris behind the counter at his pro shop adjacent to the 18th green. Woods celebrating a career Grand Slam by drinking from the Claret Jug is far easier to envision.
But at least Duval is there to make Woods wonder. We must stretch to concoct a rivalry these days, but this is the best there is to offer. Woods is ranked No. 1 in the world. Duval is ranked No. 2. They are paired in the final twosome at the British Open.
"I don't think it's lost its luster because everybody seems to want that," Duval said. "But let's be realistic. There has not been a rival, period. If you clump together Notah Begay and Phil (Mickelson), maybe together you have a rival there.
"But no one has stepped up and played with him. I'm not saying anything new. That's how it has been of late. It's up to us and other players with him to give him that run and eventually beat him."
Duval is willing to try, bad back and all. He stood throughout his post-round interview session Saturday to keep his sore back from stiffening, yet had a smile on his face, something all too rare lately.
Since his four victories at the beginning of 1999, Duval is 0-for-27. And yet he's had chances, including the 1999 U.S. Open and this year's Masters, where he finished third. Duval also tied for eighth at the 2000 U.S. Open, a fact lost during Woods' waltz toward immortality.
But Duval is starting to see signs of his past success. His short game feels comfortable, putts are starting to drop. And he's getting some breaks, like the one he got at the home hole, where his tee shot appeared headed out of bounds before getting a favorable bounce. Duval went on to make the birdie that put him in the final twosome with Woods.
"I'm going to be trying to win my first major championship; he's going to be going for the slam," Duval said. "So there is going to be some pressure on both parties."
Right now, it doesn't seem like much of a battle. Spotting Woods six strokes with 18 holes to play is all but hopeless. Woods' foundation will have to crack, and Duval will have to inflict some heavy damage.
A rivalry awaits, but it is more a dream than reality.
Bob Harig, who covers golf for the St. Petersburg Times, writes a column every Tuesday for ESPN Golf Online.
