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You are in: Special Events: 2001: USPGA |
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Thursday, 16 August, 2001, 19:24 GMT 20:24 UK
Duval on top of his game
Duval is aiming to add the USPGA to his Open title
David Duval started his campaign for a second successive Major title with an impressive 66 at the USPGA Championship - and then revealed he can keep getting better.
The Open champion eclipsed playing partner and hot favourite Tiger Woods with his four-under-par effort in the opening round in Atlanta. Duval started with birdies at the first three holes - and though he could not keep up that pace, he still finished seven shots ahead of Woods, after the world number one suffered a sorry 73. "I have not felt so good about my golf for a long time," Duval said after posting the clubhouse lead. "I played well but I could have done better. "To get under par on such a difficult golf course was great.
"I was very pleased with my round and with the way I played the course on the opening day.
"I would like to think that the win at the Open will help me win more Majors but we will have to see." Woods, however, continued in the inconsistent fashion that has characterised his play since winning the US Masters. His opening round was blighted by two double-bogeys and he admitted that he remains confused by his lack of form. "I started off not hitting the ball very well - then when I started hitting it well my putting was off," he said. "I made a few mistakes on the green." Tiger's troubles But Woods, who has won the last two USPGA titles, did not think he had played himself out of contention for a third straight crown. "If I eliminate my three-putts, I'm at even par," he said.
"That's the good thing about Major championships. If you go out there and play well you are going to be rewarded by moving up the leaderboard." Stuart Appleby had a welcome return to form as he matched Duval's score of 66. The Australian has had a lacklustre year with only three top-10 finishes but he has been working on his swing - and the changes are beginning to reap their rewards. "This year hasn't been a year I have been pleased with my golf," Appleby said. "But it's nice to say this swing key works." Another player who shot 66 was David Toms, who enhanced his chances of making the American Ryder Cup team - either by qualifying in the top 10 or impressing Curtis Strange enough to make him one of his two captain's picks. "The one thing (Strange) did say is that he didn't think he would go beyond the 15th position for his pick," said Toms, who is 14th in the US Ryder Cup table. "He said that would be stretching it. And he didn't say I had a chance to be picked. He said, 'Play well'."
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