David Duval Bio
David Robert Duval (born November 9, 1971) is an American professional golfer who competed on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking. Duval won 13 PGA Tour tournaments between 1997 and 2001, including one major championship, the 2001 Open Championship. Duval attended Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a two-time ACC Player of the Year and the 1993 National Player of the Year. After playing two years on the Nike Tour, where he won twice, he received his PGA Tour card in 1995. Between 1997 and 2000, Duval finished all four seasons top-5 on the PGA Tour’s money list, including being the leading money winner and scoring leader in 1998. In addition to his major title, he also won the 1997 Tour Championship and the 1999 Players Championship. Following Duval’s victory at the 2001 Open Championship, he never won again on the PGA Tour and his performance declined dramatically due to injuries and various medical conditions. As a result, he lost his tour card in 2011. After his professional golf career slowed, he became a golf analyst. He began competing on the Champions Tour in 2022.
Early Life and Background
David Duval was born in Jacksonville, Florida, the son of golf instructor and club professional Bob Duval and Diane Poole Duval. His brother Brent was two years older, and sister Deirdre was five years younger. During his early years, his father was club professional at Timuquana Country Club, where he learned to play golf under his father’s guidance. When David was nine, his brother Brent developed aplastic anemia. The family sought treatment at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where David underwent surgery to donate bone marrow. The transplant was not successful, and Brent died as a result of sepsis on May 17, 1981, at age 12. Bob Duval was unable to cope and moved out of the family home for a year. Counseling enabled him to reunite with his wife and children in 1982, and David continued to receive golf instruction from his father. In 1993, just as Duval was starting his professional golf career, his father again moved out of the family home, this time permanently. Duval graduated from the Episcopal High School of Jacksonville in 1989, the same year he was the U.S. Junior Amateur champion. He continued his amateur career for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men’s golf team, where he was a four-time first-team All-American, two-time ACC Player of the Year, and 1993 National Player of the Year.
Path to Golf
After two years on the Nike Tour where he won twice, Duval earned his PGA Tour card in 1995. Success came quickly, as he posted seven second-place finishes on the PGA Tour from 1995 to 1997, qualifying for the 1996 Presidents Cup and posting a 4–0–0 record for the victorious American team. But a PGA Tour victory eluded him until he won the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill in October 1997. He won his next two tournaments, including the season-ending Tour Championship. The following season, in 1998, Duval won four tournaments and led the PGA Tour money list. He also won the Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award for lowest scoring average. Early in 1999, he achieved the number one spot in the Official World Golf Ranking and shot a 59 in the final round of the 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on the Palmer Course at PGA West in La Quinta, California. Duval made an eagle on the final hole to win the tournament by one shot. Before 1999, only two other golfers in PGA Tour history, Al Geiberger and Chip Beck, had posted a 59 in competition and no one had ever done so in a final round. Later, in the spring, he won the 1999 Players Championship. When he won the Players Championship, he became the first player in history to win on the same day as his father, Bob Duval, who won a Champions Tour event that same day. He also played on the victorious 1999 Ryder Cup team. He finished the season second on the money list only behind Tiger Woods.
David Duval Career
Early Career (1993-1997)
Duval’s early career was marked by significant achievements, including his first notable work when he won the Michelob Championship in 1997. He also qualified for the 1996 Presidents Cup and had a strong showing with a 4–0–0 record. In 1998, he won four tournaments and led the PGA Tour money list, showcasing his talent and consistency. His performance during this period earned him the Haskins Award and the Jack Nicklaus Award in 1993, solidifying his reputation as a rising star in professional golf.
Breakthrough (1998-2001)
Duval’s breakthrough came in 1999 when he reached the number one spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. He achieved this milestone after winning the Players Championship and posting a historic 59 in the final round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. His victory at the 2001 Open Championship marked the pinnacle of his career, as he secured his place in golf history. Duval’s winning speech was welcomed by British commentators as “delightfully modest and heartfelt.”
Notable Works and Milestones
David Duval’s signature work includes his victory at the 2001 Open Championship, which remains a highlight of his career. He has received multiple awards, including the Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, and the Byron Nelson Award, underscoring his contributions to the sport. His dramatic moments on the course, particularly his rise to the number one ranking, have left a lasting impact on the golfing world.
David Duval Award Nominations
Throughout his career, David Duval has received numerous nominations for prestigious awards, reflecting his exceptional talent and contributions to the sport of golf.
David Duval Awards Won
David Duval has won several notable awards, including the Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, and the Byron Nelson Award, recognizing his achievements on the PGA Tour and his impact on the game of golf.
David Duval Family
David Duval is married to Suzanne Persichitte, whom he met in 2003. They have two children together. Duval also has three older stepchildren from Suzanne’s previous marriage. The family resides in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado.
Personal Life
Duval has had a notable personal life, including a previous long-term relationship with Julie McArthur, which ended in early 2002. He has expressed his political views, indicating a shift from being a lifelong Republican to registering as a Democrat. Duval’s family background and experiences have shaped his perspectives and approach to life.
