CHUBB CLASSIC PRESENTED BY SERVPRO

February 16, 2022

David Duval

Tiburón Golf Club

Press Conference

Q. David, thank you so much for joining us here at the Chubb Classic. You're making your second Champions start here this week, first full-field event. What's it been like so far being here in Naples?

DAVID DUVAL: Yeah, just got in yesterday. It's exciting. It's all new. Trying to find my way around, know where to go, where to register, all the things that become second nature playing full time on the regular tour. Then you come all here and you're a rookie and you don't know where anything is.

Q. Who have been some of the guys you have been most excited to see again?

DAVID DUVAL: Well, you know what? You just start at the top of the list and go down to the bottom. These are all my peers I played with for 28 years. Granted, I haven't competed full time in nearly a decade, but to be able to see all my friends, peer group, their wives, things like that, my wife and I have been more than ecstatic with Hawaii and hoping the rest of the year will be that way.

Q. What was it like playing in Hawaii? You said you wanted to come out and play this full time.

DAVID DUVAL: Right.

Q. What kind of feel did you get from that?

DAVID DUVAL: It was good. You know, I hadn't played in a regular individual golf tournament in over a year, and I've played very few in the last five years.

So, you know, I mean, if you're going to be honest about it, it was a little nerve wracking, a little anxious, because it's just not what I've been doing. I've been talking about these guys in golf for seven years, not competing with them day in and day out.

So I think it's a situation where just get comfortable, kind of get my feet underneath myself again. That's why I'm really happy about the next three weeks. I don't believe I've played consecutive events, let alone three tournaments in a row in probably eight or nine years.

Looking forward to that.

Q. We were asking Jim about your relationship.

DAVID DUVAL: Uh-huh.

Q. What does it mean to you to be out here playing with him, number one? And two, just, you know...

DAVID DUVAL: Just in some ways to reconnect. We met the first time, as I recall, or at least the first time I saw him, when I was 15 years old and he was 16 years old in Hilton Head, South Carolina at an AJGA golf tournament.

So to have been knowing and playing and competing against somebody for 35, 36 years, and he and I are dear friends, our wives are dear friends, Tabitha and Susie, I just think that just the opportunity to kind of reconnect that way, especially in a competitive environment, is a true blessing that the Champions Tour provides.

Q. He mentioned you guys were, I don't know if you were undefeated, but in practice rounds as partners...

DAVID DUVAL: (Laughter.) We certainly dipped into a few pockets on the Nike Tour, what is now the Korn Ferry Tour. He and I were partners virtually every week. I don't recall having to pay out too often. (Laughter.)

Q. What did you think of what happened on 16 during Phoenix? What do you know of it with the holes in one and the beer coming out of the stands and the two players taking shirts off?

DAVID DUVAL: I don't know if I really have an opinion about that. You know, that's what that environment is set up for. That's what is in some ways expected.

I'm just -- at least I'm not aware of anybody getting hit with the beer cans and things like that, so I'm happy that didn't happen. That could be potentially a little bit dangerous, you know. It certainly, when they're landing on the putting surface, can affect the putting surface. Granted you're allowed to repair it, but you can't always see the bumps and dents that these things make.

It simply is what it is, and if you don't like it, don't play.

Q. That kind of started in '97 when Tiger made his.

DAVID DUVAL: Uh-huh.

Q. I know you played in the tournament. I don't know what you remember of the ace or the after...

DAVID DUVAL: I don't. I don't think I was anywhere near it. I'm not even sure if I was on the golf course when it happened. Honestly I don't recall.

Q. The Saudi Tour, any thoughts on that? There have been over the years similar attempts to try to (indiscernible) better the PGA Tour, not like this necessarily.

DAVID DUVAL: Right.

Q. What do you think?

DAVID DUVAL: I think you would be an absolute fool to go play on that tour. Simple enough.