By Bob Harig
 Special to ESPN.com
 Friday, April 6
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Three times he's had his hand on the door that leads to the champion's locker room, a revered place at Augusta National Golf Club where only winners are allowed.

Three times, David Duval had it slammed in his face.

 David Duval
David Duval has finished second, sixth and third in the past three Masters.
The ills of his recent past, the injury to his wrist and the lawsuit with Titleist and the lack of success so far in 2001, have effectively obscured the fact that Duval could very easily have three green jackets in his closet.

He has none, but heads into another Masters weekend with a chance to win.

Duval's 6-under 66 on Friday was a surprise to just about everyone but him. Having missed the last three tournaments due to tendinitis in his wrist that resulted from too much practice, Duval figured to be rusty.

And there was nothing in his play before that to suggest he was on the verge of something special. In five full-field events, Duval failed to crack the top 50 and had missed two cuts.

Now he's tied for fourth, part of a who's who leaderboard that includes Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen, Jose Maria Olazabal, Mark Calcavecchia, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh.

"I'm as jacked as I can be," Duval said. "Like I said coming in here, I thought if there's one thing I had going for me, I would be the freshest player in the field."

Just eight months ago, Duval was the No 2-ranked player in the world, still considered the best bet to interrupt Woods' run of greatness. He briefly challenged Woods on the final day of the British Open, despite a bad back that eventually caused him to miss 10 weeks, including the PGA Championship.

He came back to win his first event in more than a year at the Buick Challenge, and teamed with Woods to win the World Cup in December. And he appeared poised for a big year. But after tying for seventh at the season-opening Mercedes Championship, there's been little good to talk about.

"To be honest with you, there's been a lot of stuff going on," said Duval, presumably referring to his wrist injury and the flap with Titleist. "But that's kind of behind me, a lot of it, and some of it I have no control over when it is going to end."

Duval has dropped to No. 8 in the World Ranking. He is 105th on the PGA Tour money list with $135,558, all but $17,000 of that figure coming at the limited-field Mercedes.

This is the same Duval who at one time two years ago had won 11 of 34 PGA Tour events. Now he's got just one victory in the last two years.

Adding to his woes is the recent flap with Titleist, the company with which he had a lucrative endorsement deal until late last year. Duval opted out of the contract because it no longer made him the highest-paid player. Titleist's parent company, Acushnet, then filed a seven-figure lawsuit. Duval, 29, filed a countersuit and is not allowed to talk about the case. He signed a reported four-year, $28 million deal with Nike last month.

Part of that deal meant he would play with Nike's new prototype irons, also rumored to be a reason for his poor play.

"They are great. I mean, I appreciate everybody's concern," Duval said mockingly. "It's the second set of golf clubs (from Nike), and I think they are spectacular. It is exactly what I was looking for."

Duval is also looking for his first major championship, and this appeared to be the place he would get it.

Three years ago, he led by three with three holes to play, only to have Mark O'Meara birdie the last two for the victory. Two years ago, the first player in 25 years to have four victories heading into The Masters, he briefly contended on Sunday before finishing tied for sixth. Last year he played the final 36 holes with eventual champion Singh and ended up tied for third.

“ I've been there for three straight years and I know what the feelings are like and I know what to expect. I think that's invaluable here. ”
— David Duval

"All they can do is help me," said Duval, who has12 PGA Tour titles. "I've been there for three straight years and I know what the feelings are like and I know what to expect. I think that's invaluable here, especially because there are some golf shots that you are going to have to hit and and you know how you are going to feel standing over them. So I am excited about my prospects."

So is Woods, just two great rounds away from a remarkable fourth straight major championship and sixth overall. So is Mickelson, trying for his first major in 30 attempts as a pro. So is Janzen, who has not won since his 1998 U.S. Open title. So is Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion, who could become just the seventh player with three or more green jackets.

And so is tournament leader Chris DiMarco, who is playing in just his fifth major championship.

"If you haven't been there, it's tough," Woods said. "I was very fortunate the year I won my first major (at the '97 Masters), I happened to play great and separate myself. Obviously (DiMarco) is playing great and my hat's off to him."

DiMarco is just the fifth Masters rookie to lead after 36 holes. DiMarco, 32, appears to be out of his league with the likes of Woods (26 wins), Duval (12), Mickelson (18) and Janzen (eight).

Asked if he believed he belonged, DiMarco said: "I guess I do this week. Sure, why not? Before Woods and Duval were Woods and Duval, they had to get there. Maybe this is my week to get there."

To get there, he'll have to gone through some fine company.

Bob Harig, who covers golf for the St. Petersburg Times, writes a column every Tuesday for ESPN.com.




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