David Duval was once the top-ranked golfer in the entire world. Just a few years later, he’d become notorious for shooting rounds in the mid-80s and finishing dead last in many tournaments.

Perhaps no golfer in history has risen to the top so quickly and fallen so spectacularly. While this would be an intriguing story if the cause of Duval’s fall was well-known, exactly what happened to David Duval’s career is still unclear. 

Most people, and David Duval himself, point to the numerous injuries Duval suffered in the early 2000s. While this was certainly a factor, the truth, as is so often the case, is more complicated than that. Duval had inner demons that no one knew about at the time.

Duval’s Early Life

David Duval seemed destined to be a Tour player from the start. His father was a club pro who’d later have some success on the Champions Tour. David was an avid golfer whose talent was clear from an early age.

David’s brother, Brent, developed aplastic anemia and died despite a bone marrow transplant from David. David threw himself into golf to escape his sorrows and quickly became one of the top juniors in the country.

A Glittering Amateur Career

Duval won the US Junior Amateur as a high school senior. He accepted a scholarship to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, where he had one of the greatest college golf careers ever.

Duval was a four-time first-team All-American, the 1993 Player of the Year, and a two-time ACC Player of the Year. It was clear that he was destined for the Tour, and many expected him to get off to a flying start as a professional. He even led a PGA Tour event, the BellSouth Classic, for three rounds as a college kid.

David Duval Turns Pro

Unsurprisingly, Duval turned professional upon finishing his college career. He played for a couple of years on the Nike Tour, as the second-tier tour was known at the time. His time on the Nike Tour was quite successful, as he won twice and earned his tour card in 1995.

Duval immediately began contending and racked up seven second-place finishes in two years. However, he was having trouble closing the deal.

David Duval Enjoys Five Years At The Top

Duval finally won his first Tour event in 1997, capturing the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill in a playoff. Now that he’d gotten the monkey off his back, more wins quickly followed. In fact, he won twice more in the next three weeks, including the Tour Championship.

In less than a month, Duval had established himself as one of the best golfers in the world.

He went on to win five times in 1998, topping the Tour money list and finishing with the lowest scoring average. Duval was now closing in on the world #1 ranking.

David Duval Becomes The Top Dog

1999 brought further success for Duval, as he won four more tournaments. The biggest win was unquestionably the Players Championship, not only because of the prestige of the event but also because this win made Duval the top-ranked golfer in the world. He was also a part of the winning Ryder Cup team in 1999.

Tiger Woods reclaimed the world #1 spot after several months, and Duval slowed down a bit in 2000. He won only one tournament and lost in a playoff in another. However, he still finished 7th on the Tour money list.

Duval’s Final Triumph

Duval’s final win on a major tour was also his biggest. After having a mediocre season until July, he won the British Open in style. He shot 65-67 on the weekend and won with a comfortable three-shot cushion.

Duval was back on top. Now that he’d won his first major, it seemed certain that more would follow. After all, he’d won many regular Tour tournaments in quick succession after finally notching his first win.

The Decline of David Duval

Many golf fans, especially younger golf fans, think that Duval’s golf game became embarrassingly bad immediately after his 2001 British Open win. While there’s an element of truth to this, it’s not quite that simple.

Duval had a few good finishes in the 2002 season and ended up finishing 80th on the Tour money list. While this was a poor season by his standards, things were about to get far worse.

His 2003 season was a complete disaster, and he finished 211th on the money list. He took an extended break, only returning for the 2004 US Open. Duval continued to struggle, finishing no higher than 172nd on the money list in a five-season slump that ran through 2008.

Duval had to use his final career money list exemption to secure a 2009 Tour card. His game failed to improve, except for one tournament. After going through sectional qualifying to earn his spot in that year’s US Open, he finished in a tie for second. This finish alone nearly saw him retain his card, but he played so poorly in his other outings that he could only manage to finish 130th on the money list.

Signs Of Life  

Duval played the 2010 season on a combination of sponsor’s exemptions, past champion exemptions, and a conditional Tour card from finishing 130th. He didn’t win, but he played solid golf for most of the season and retained his card with a 106th place finish on the money list. Perhaps Duval was on the verge of a comeback.

The Struggles Continue

Duval continued to play through 2015, never coming close to winning or earning a Tour card. He received many sponsor’s exemptions, though he announced prior to the 2014 season that he’d no longer seek these exemptions. He continued playing a limited schedule without much success for the next several years.

A Fresh Start On The Champions Tour

Duval started playing on the Champions Tour in 2022. Despite the softer competition, he hasn’t had much success. As of April 2024, he’s played 42 events on the Champions Tour with 0 top-10 finishes.

What Happened To Duval’s Career?

Duval suffered numerous injuries in the early 2000s, including problems with his back, wrist, and shoulder. He’s also rumored to have suffered from vertigo.

Duval also had problems in his personal life at this time, including breaking up with his long-time girlfriend in early 2002. He struggled with his mental health and was on antidepressants for a time.

Putting Duval’s Career In Perspective

After winning the British Open in 2001 at the end of an incredible five-year run, Duval was on top of the golfing world. He’d accomplished everything he’d ever dreamed of–becoming the best golfer in the world, winning a Ryder Cup, and winning a major. However, Duval has spoken of losing some of his drive after making his dreams come true.This undoubtedly played a part in Duval’s career falling off afterwards. 

When looking only at Duval’s short prime, it’s easy to say that he could have accomplished more. However, 99.999% of golfers would kill to have had David Duval’s career. Maybe he could have won more tournaments, but he’ll still probably make the World Golf Hall of Fame in the near future.