The Open: Former champion David Duval has superb Sunday
Sunday 19 July 2015 14:11, UK
David Duval was in positive spirits after a third-round 67 in the 144th Open at St Andrews lifted him into contention in a tournament for the first time in years.
The 2001 champion barely made the cut, which came at level par, but took advantage of the friendly conditions to shoot a five under round and move into the top 20, albeit long before the leaders started their day.
Duval had recorded just one round in the 60s in the Open since shooting a closing 67 to win at Royal Lytham 14 years ago, the former world No 1 having birdied the 18th on Saturday to make his first cut in the event since 2008.
"I expected to play well at some point," said Duval, who spends more time commentating on golf than playing it these days and had made only one cut this season, in the Puerto Rico Open.
"I've been doing what I want to do for a long time, just not putting this together.
"The difficulties I face is not getting to play. Competing against the best golfers in the world is not a fair fight when I haven't played a golf tournament in three or four months and they've been playing constantly.
"But I faced a challenge yesterday and it made me feel real good to do what I did. I hit the golf shots I needed to do on 17 and then three-putted like a fool, but then birdied the 18th knowing I had to, and that was cool.
"Because I missed the cut at Gullane (in last week's Scottish Open), I've been at St Andrews since last Saturday every day playing golf. Who gets to say that, really? It's pretty cool.
"I'll go play tomorrow and do the best I can. Maybe I'll shoot 67 again, maybe I'll shoot 77, who knows? But I'll have a smile on my face and enjoy walking around St Andrews, I can tell you that."
