Former Open champion David Duval shot the worst round in Open history for 69 years at Royal Portrush on Thursday.
Duval, 47 crashed to last place posting a horrible 20-over par 91 and this after having walked from the course leaving R & A officials in total confusion after posting what was first a 13 at the par-5 7th hole but then changed to a 14.
Duval was originally credited with a 13 at the 7th but after ending his round in what everyone thought would be a 90 it was later adjusted to a 14.
This how the seventh unfolded for the former World No.1:
1 – Drive (ball lost)
2 – Penalty shot
3 – Provisional off the tee and loses ball
4 – Penalty shot
5 – Hit as second provisional off the tee but in standing over his ball for what he thought would be his fifth,
he realises it is not his ball that he hit. Mark Watson, a rules official on the PGA Tour and who was on the
7th tee, is notified and goes to meet Duval. The American is penalised two shots and Watson drives him back to the tee.
6 – Shot penalty
7 – Plays 7th shot from the tee
Then takes a further seven shots to complete the hole.
Mark Watson drives David Duval back to the tee on the 7th.
It took officials some time to figure out just how much Duval had made on the hole, and while they originally settled on a 13, it was eventually turned into a 14, as a 90 became a 91 to equal the second highest score for a single hole in Open history and the worst round for 69 years.
To his credit, Duval spoke after his round.
“It was all a bit of a blur and fairly unsettling, obviously,” Duval said. “But I wasn’t hurt enough not to finish.
“Unless I’m really hurt or sick, I post my score. It’s just one of those god-awful nightmare scenarios that happened today and I happened to be on the wrong end of it.
“I have an obligation, and I don’t know if it’s more or less here. Maybe it is more because I have won. But you have an obligation that if you play, you post your score,” he said. “Am I happy about that? Is there some hint of embarrassment to it? I don’t know. I teed off in The Open and shot [91] so put it on the board.”
Duval said he’s been slowed this week by tendinitis in his left arm but plans to play the second round regardless of his score on Thursday or his injury.
“Obviously I’ll be in last place,” he said, “but maybe if I am feeling good I can try not to be in last place after the end of the week.”
