Fairways to hell as dejected Duval remains in the doldrums

AS the battle for the world number one spot goes on this week – Ernie Els and Tiger Woods could both replace Vijay Singh just a week after he went back to the top – one former holder of the crown has other things on his mind.

David Duval, golf's premier player for 15 weeks in 1999 and Open champion two years later, returns to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs and his home town with his game in tatters.

The 33-year-old's victory in the Players' Championship at Sawgrass six years ago saw him become world number one for the first time, the culmination of a majestic run which included a closing round of 59, one of only three in US Tour history.