Masters 1999: Snowman hurts Duval's chances

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Snowman hurts Duval's chances
Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Not even the No. 1 player in the world is immune from disaster in The Masters with a single lapse in judgment.
What David Duval called "a bad decision" cost him his first triple bogey since August, seriously endangering chances of winning his third consecutive tournament and his long-awaited first major.

David Duval is nine shots back heading into the weekend.
Duval had a difficult time talking about his "snowman" Friday on the 500-yard, par-5 No. 15, which has become a back-nine monster since Augusta National officials shaved mounds, planted trees, and made the green rock-hard.
"It was a bad shot at the wrong time," Duval admitted. "It hurt."
Somehow golf's hottest player hit a high-handicapper wedge after deciding to play it safe and lay up with his second shot instead of going for the green in two.
The wedge was shockingly short and the ball found the pond. Stunned, Duval dropped another ball. His fifth shot hit the green and bounced over, almost going into the water in the back.
He chipped to the green and two-putted for 8 and first triple bogey since the first round of the PGA Championship at Sahalee.
Duval wouldn't call what happened the result of a bad swing.
"It was just a bad decision," he said. "I wanted to carry the ball farther than I did."
Duval managed to rally with a 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole to shoot a 2-over-par 74 that left him well off the lead.
After the round, Duval, who shot a spectacular 59 in the final round to win the Bob Hope Classic, tipped his hat to the course.
"That's what so great about this place. It can make you look foolish," Duval said.
Then he showed the fire that has made him a feared competitor.
"I'm discouraged but I'm not down." Duval said. "It's only been two days and that's the good thing. Six shots isn't much to make up around this place. So many things can happen. I could make a birdie on No. 15 tomorrow and have a four-shot swing."
Duval said his birdie on the last hole saved the day.
"It was a nice way to leave," he said.
Asked if he was going to the practice range to hit a few wedges, he smiled weakly: "I'm going home."
Duval was asked if the stress of winning The Players Championships and BellSouth Classic in the last two weeks had caused him to hit a wall both mentally and physically.
He shrugged and said, "Not at all. I'm OK. I just made one bad shot on a very tough hole. This doesn't bother me at all. This is all part of winning a major. "
Duval came close to winning The Masters last year. It took a birdie-birdie finish by Mark O'Meara to beat him and Fred Couples by one stroke.
As he turned to walk away, Duval said, "Augusta National always gives you challenges. I'll have another chance and another challenge tomorrow."