Jun 29, 2009 5:30 pm US/Pacific
Duval Says Confidence Key To Success At U.S. Open
Duval's Next Stop Is John Deere Classic
DENVER (CBS) ―
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David Duval shows CBS4's Vic Lombardi how to hit a golf ball to get back spin when it lands on a green. He then told Vic to not bother even trying it.
CBS
David Duval's improbable U.S. Open quest earlier this month was filled with rally after rally and nearly got him the trophy. Once the world's No. 1 golfer, the Denver resident settled for a second place finish, CBS station KCNC-TV reported.
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Duval's great performance rocketed his ranking from 882 to 142. It was his first top 10 since 2002, netting a check for $559,830 that nearly matched what he's made in the last five years combined.
So how did Duval resurrect his career?
"It's been a six-year process of work and preparation and practice, both physically and mentally," Duval told CBS4's Vic Lombardi in a sit-down interview.
It took Duval years to restore his swing and his confidence. Duval believes there is no such thing as being too confident.
"I don't think that's something that applies in sports, maybe that's a hard lesson I've learned and I've been quoted as saying that if there was truly anything that I've learned through it all is that confidence is the one thing that must be protected at all costs," Duval said. "Therefore I don't think you can get too confident."
Duval said it's like the 17th hole at Bethpage Black. He thought he had made the put, even though it didn't go in, he says he made it.
"I made it, you know, I really did. I did everything right and it spits out and comes back at me."
Another thing he's learn over the last few years is that for some reason he plays better on tougher golf courses and when conditions more difficult. That's why Duval is pining for the British Open. It's the last tournament he won and a tournament he believes he can win again.
"Right now I'm prepared and in the process of preparing to actually be better than I was. I think I swing the golf club better now than I did. I think I hit the ball even that much better than I did and more solid. I was probably thought of as one of the best ball strikers in the world, if not the best ball striker."
Duval said that even though everybody else was surprised by his success at the U.S. Open, he was not surprised at all.
"Maybe because I'm the one that's actually been playing, practicing and working; and I'm the only one that knows truly what's going on in my head and how I'm feeling and the confidence I've been gaining."
Duval said he had been working with his old golf coach from Georgia Tech.
"I put my golf swing back together, if anything, slightly different than 10 years ago, but also better … I have grander things in mind in a return, if you will, and I know that I'm playing well and I feel good about what I'm doing and I'm comfortable with what I'm doing, therefore I expect some bigger things."
Duval's next stop is the John Deere Classic on July 9 and then it's on to the British Open which gets going on July 16.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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