David Papa Duval - Will he make the cut?

[Rafcin]

How can you not admire the guy, after what he's going through on the course(s), to have so much positive energy and sense of humor. GO DD!

New dad Duval to play U.S. Open with old swing
by DOUG FERGUSON, Associated Press


David Duval is going back to the U.S. Open as a new father with an old swing. Duval has not been heard from since missing the cut at the Masters, taking the last two months off after his wife delivered a healthy boy, Brayden Brent, on April 21.

He considered playing at the Memorial as a tuneup for the U.S. Open, but decided to spend time with his college golf coach, Puggy Blackmon, with hopes of finding the swing that made him No. 1 in the world the last time the U.S. Open was played at Pinehurst No. 2 in 1999.

"Puggy is not trying to teach me," Duval said Tuesday from his home in Denver. "He's had video of me for 17 years. He showed me, 'This is what you used to do, and this is what you're doing -- you make the decision.' It's easier to change when you're convinced you're doing the right stuff. I feel pretty psyched."

Duval has been in a mystifying slump that began not long after he won the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham, some of that brought on by injuries that unknowingly caused him to alter his swing.

He spent seven months away from golf last year and made the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills his first tournament of the year, missing the cut with rounds of 83-82. Duval later hooked up with swing coach Hank Haney, changed to a more neutral grip and showed progress by the end of the year.

But he went nearly three months without playing in the offseason as his wife had difficulties with her pregnancy, and he has yet to cash a check in eight tournaments.

Blackmon, his coach when Duval was an All-American all four years at Georgia Tech, first started working with him at the Masters.

"It takes a little getting used to," Duval said of returning to his old swing. "My left shoulder was anywhere from 2 to 5 inches ahead of the ball, and that's a recipe for hitting it 100 yards to the right, which I've done. But my body is starting to remember. There's no reason I can't have some success."

Duval said he likely would play the Barclays Classic the following week at Westchester, saying he needed to play consecutive weeks on Tour.

Meanwhile, he said his newborn son is doing well. Asked if the 6-week-old boy was wearing wraparound shades, Duval joked, "He was born with them on."

[Thrash13]

In some other tournaments and venues, I would say that he would make the cut. But this isn't just any other course he will be playing. Pinehurst will eat DD alive when it's all said and done. I just don't think you can turn the switch on and off on a major championship venue, but that's just me.

With all that negativity aside, I will be pulling for Duval without a doubt. I really want to see him succeed and contend in tournaments again. I loved to watch that smooth silky swing. Especially after seeing his final round 59 on two different Golf Channel specials last night.

Good luck David becasue you will need it! And congrats on the baby Duval.

[mediaguru]

No.

[Jeepthrills]

My brain says no, but my heart says yes. I would love to see him play well. I was a big fan of his when he kept comming close early in his career and I was really excited when he broke through and won. It was great when he stepped up to be the guy to challenge Tiger. At that point my two favorite palyers were on top of the game. He is such a misunderstood guy. There is no denying that as a young guy he was a first class jerk. By all accounts he changed that and became a truly likeable guy. I question his coice of tournaments for his first time back, but even if he doesn't make the cut, I hope he has a prommising showing. He was a force in American golf and he is the type of player we need back on the Ryder Cup team. Go DD. Congrats on the new son. Thats bigger than any Major.

[Cole_21]

I want to say that he will make the cut, but I highly doubt it.