THE PRESIDENTS CUP

September 14, 1996

David Duval

DAVID DUVAL: So far, so good.

DAVID DUVAL: Well, yesterday I don't even know if we were ever behind at any point in either match. We seemed to start out quite well in both of them. And today it was a bit more of a struggle. Neither one of us were playing particularly well for about six holes and we were two down. And then we just kind of got it together and got on a roll and played the next nine holes 8 under par and closed them out.

DAVID DUVAL: I think our Captain was justified had I been 0 and 3 at this point. It's solely up to his discretion as to who he wanted to choose for the other two spots. And I don't feel like I have to make apologies for being chosen or justify myself for being chosen.

Mr. Palmer. Has that got you fired up to play for him as the Captain?

DAVID DUVAL: Oh, yes, it's been a great experience, especially getting to know him more as a friend through this week, as much as anything. Not too many players behind myself are going to have that opportunity.

DAVID DUVAL: Yes.

DAVID DUVAL: On 12, you want how everybody hit?

DAVID DUVAL: I hit a drive down the fairway and had 215 yards to the green, 250 to the pin and I hit a 3-wood about three feet.

DAVID DUVAL: I don't know. I hit some ugly shots, too. It just wasn't a slow shot,. I hit back-to-back pop-ups off the tees on 5 and 6 - just some kind of funny things. I think it was -- I don't know, as much as anything getting that -- kind of breaking the ice on 7, rolling in a nice putt for birdie there kind of just woke us up and got us going again. We were only 1 down at that point and from then on it was just -- we both seemed to really start hitting it like we did yesterday.

DAVID DUVAL: Maybe a little bit. I think we kind of -- I don't know. It's kind of, I guess, if anything, we found it a bit humorous. It's a bold statement and granted, you have two exceptional players in those two, but you just kind of step out like that and say that, we didn't put a whole lot of weight in it, really. We didn't know exactly the context it had been said. So we didn't jump to any conclusions.

DAVID DUVAL: It may very well have fired him up a bit more. (Laughter)

DAVID DUVAL: Yeah, six birdies and an eagle. On 7, I hit a 7-iron up there, made a birdie. On 8, Mark and I both hit it about four feet and he putted first and he made birdie. On 9, Mark hit it about six or eight feet and made birdie. On 10, I hit it about 10 feet and made birdie. 12 is where I made the eagle. 13, I guess we tied. Then 14, Mark made birdie there. Mark made birdie on 15, and I kind of hinged my putt, but he made his.

DAVID DUVAL: I know him fairly well. I don't know everything about him, I guess. I know him about as well as I know most of the guys out here. And he was -- when I turned pro, at IMG, the same fellow was handling us. We played some practice games together. He's always been real good to me. And this week -- I don't even know if we played -- I think we might have played one practice round together. But I don't know if it's as much as just temperaments gelled and we just get along out there and we have the most confidence in each other. That's as important as anything.

DAVID DUVAL: When Captain Palmer -- you'll have to ask him. Somebody -- not somebody - two people have to sit each round the first two days. Somebody's got to do it.

DAVID DUVAL: Not prior to this, no, but the one time we played here he said maybe you and I should just go out and play. And I guess he talked to Arnold about that and he listened to Mark and so from there we just kind of kept going.

DAVID DUVAL: As much as most anybody here, I guess. You have your certain few tournaments as an amateur, and that's about it

DAVID DUVAL: I was less so today and I was actually less nervous yesterday than I expected to be. I think that just came from being comfortable and how I was playing. I felt like I was playing well. So I felt if I just went out there and continued to hit good golf shots that things would take care of themselves. If I hadn't been comfortable with how I was playing, I think I would have been a lot more nervous than I was.

DAVID DUVAL: Well, actually I think I have two wins. I feel like the wins I had on the Nike TOUR were exceptional wins. I didn't have a win on the regular TOUR, but I would sure hope it helps. I couldn't tell you if it will or not. I don't feel as if when I had the opportunity to win I've played poorly, with the notable exception of Atlanta this year when I just really didn't play well on Sunday when I was leading. But other than that, I felt like I've kind of stepped up to the plate and played well when I've had a chance. It's just in the end I came up a shot or two short.

DAVID DUVAL: Do you mean our team as a whole against theirs or do you mean the teams going out today?

DAVID DUVAL: I'd prefer to be where we are than where they are. But I don't think with so many points available tomorrow, I think you really have to grind it out through this afternoon and just try and get as close as you can. We were hoping that if everybody played great golf today we could maybe get to 16 and a half today. The sooner the better. But we'll just keep going and see what happens.

DAVID DUVAL: Yes, along with the Ryder Cup team - this was one of my main goals for this year. And I played in the Walker Cup and the World Amateur teams, but those were four or five years ago now and I guess I lost a bit of a feeling you get when you're part of a team, especially with such good players. And I think it gives you a bit of a calming effect knowing that you have 11 other guys who are 11 of the best players in the world as your teammates. You just feel comfortable about that.