David Duval

David Robert Duval (born November 9, 1971) is an American professional golfer and former World No. 1 who competes on the PGA Tour.

Background and career

Early years

Duval was born in Jacksonville, Florida, the son of golf instructor and club professional Bob Duval and Diane Poole Duval, a member of the FSU Flying High Circus during college. Florida Times-Union, July 20, 2007Brown, Chip: Men's Journal, June 16, 2010 During his early years, his father was club professional at Timuquana Country Club, where he learned to play golf under his father's guidance.

When David was nine, his brother Brent developed aplastic anemia. The family sought treatment at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where David underwent surgery to donate bone marrow. Unfortunately, the transplant was not successful, and Brent died as a result of blood poisoning on May 17, 1981 at age 12. Florida Times-Union, March 21, 1999

Bob Duval was unable to cope, and moved out of the family home for a year. Counseling enabled him to reunite with his wife and children in 1982, and David continued to receive golf instruction from his father.

Amateur career

He graduated from the Episcopal High School of Jacksonville in 1989, the same year he was the U.S. Junior Amateur champion. He continued his amateur...
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