FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — David Duval walked off the 18th green Monday afternoon waving his white cap.
A show of surrender?
Not from Duval. Not this week, when his improbable U.S. Open quest often seemed doomed, only to see him rally every time and nearly get his name etched on the trophy.
“It may be arrogance,” Duval said, “but this is where I feel like I belong.”
Once the world’s No. 1 player and ranked 882nd heading into the U.S. Open — he leapfrogged 740 players by day’s end, up to No. 142 — Duval was beaten by only one player this week at Bethpage Black, finishing two shots behind Lucas Glover and in a tie for second with Phil Mickelson and Ricky Barnes.
It was his first top 10 since 2002, netting a cheque for US$559,830 that nearly matched what he’s made in the last five years combined.
“It’s very difficult to sit here and say second place is a failure,” said Duval, who led the field with 19 birdies.
“It is very much a success. It’s not quite the success I had looked forward to this week and had hoped for, and in some way expected. But success, nonetheless.” Success borne from his resilience, which was on display throughout the season’s second major.