Dave from the Dead

David Duval is currently not ranked among the top 850 golfers in the world. In fact Duval is 569 spots beyond the Lam Chih Bing, the pride of Singapore. If the PDF release by number one google hit for World Golf Rankings were to be tripled in size, Duval would appear ahead of just 18 golfers. Yet, somehow, at 882nd in the rankings David Duval -- sporting a fresh beer gut and grimy beard -- is one under par and in 12th after just over a round and a half at the US Open.

The man has not won a tournament since the 2001 British Open brought the consensus top 10 golfer in the world his long awaited major. That win is the only reason David Duval is being heard from these days thanks to the glory of major winner exemptions. Imagine that in other sports? Julio Franco would still be in the majors living off his 1991 batting crown.

It remains to be seen what Duval can do the rest of the weekend. He won the British and even had success there last year and was on the leaderboard on the weekend before a third round score that sounds more like I shot it than a former number one in the world knocked him to a T39 finish. The question will be weather that will be the Duval that shows up will be the one who disappeared off the face of the golfing world and shot an 83 under the pressure of the Duval who mastered Royal Lytham & St Annes in '01. The monsoon engulfing Long Island may just scream British Open enough to keep Duval in that mindset and keep him somewhere on the leaderboard.

Whatever happens -- incredible victory or total Ankiel-esque breakdown and defeat -- it should sure as hell be fun to watch.