by David Duval no longer speaks to Tiger Woods, but he once considered himself one of the golf icon’s “close friends.”
The 20-year-old Woods made his PGA Tour debut at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open.
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As for Duval, he was in his prime in the late ’90s and early 2000s, when the American was No. 1 in the world for 15 weeks in 1999 and won the Open in 2001 – his only major.
During Duval’s prime, the two experienced fierce but friendly rivalry. So much so that in 1999 they broadcast a singles game on American television.
Despite their competitive nature, Duval revealed that the two were friends off the track.
“We were friends,” Duval told the No Laying Up podcast.
“I don’t know what the word or adjective is to describe him as an icon, but you know, he obviously came out and turned pro, had success and started winning a little bit and started winning some more win.”
“Tiger Woods today, I think he’s 47 now, [that was a] Generational period in which he became this icon.
“Back when he turned pro, it wasn’t like he turned pro and became the best player in the world.
“Everyone knew him. Everyone knew who he was and expected a lot, but it took time for the aura to continue to build.”
“For me, we were…I was probably one of his closer and better friends along with Mark.” [O’Meara].
“I think he trusted us more than anything and knew we were just his friends and didn’t care about the other things at all.”
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“But when you have someone like that who just grows and grows and grows, then that circle has to get tighter and tighter.
“And that’s exactly how it happened.”
Unfortunately for Duval, his rivalry with Woods was shorter than hoped due to a variety of injuries and health issues.
Additionally, the 52-year-old has since claimed that he and Woods have not spoken to each other.
“We were good friends 10 years ago, 12 years ago. We talked quite a bit,” Duval said.
“Are we friends now? I think so. We don’t talk.
“I would have a beer with him any day, but it would probably have to be hidden in a house somewhere. It’s not like he can go public and do it.”
