Duval 'a blessed man' despite his 83

DAVID DUVAL was unequivocal. As he stood behind the 18th green following an agonising round of 13-over-par 83 at the US Open, the American declared: "I stand here a blessed man.

"What's happened to me in the last six to eight months is far greater than anything I've ever done for the last 10 years around here."

The 2001 British Open champion says there are now much more important things to him than golf. Which is a good job considering his opening round score at Shinnecock Hills yesterday.