CROMWELL, Conn. -- David Duval says he will play the Greater
Hartford Open to the end even if the tournament carries into
Monday, when he is to play in a made-for-television match with
Tiger Woods in California that night.
"I'll be here. That's my obligation," he said Saturday after
finishing the third round at 4-under par, 11 strokes off the lead
and all but out of contention.
The chance of severe weather late Sunday afternoon was so
strong, the PGA moved up the starting time for the final round two
hours to 7 a.m. ET. To complete the tournament by 2 p.m., players
will start their final round from both the first and 10th tees.
In the event severe weather should hit in the morning, the final
round could be postponed until Monday.
Duval is to go against Woods in an 18-hole match play exhibition
Monday night at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. It
is to be televised live.
Duval said he didn't see that as a problem if the GHO continues
Monday morning. He said he likely would finish the GHO by noon,
giving him enough time to get to California for the "Showdown at
Sherwood."
"I don't think that would come into question," he said. "I've
got plenty of time."
The matchup is similar to "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf,"
which features two golfers going head-to-head. It was played from
1962 to 1973 and was brought back in 1994. It has been televised on
ESPN the past two years, but on tape delay.
ABC will begin the broadcast at 8 p.m. ET with the match
already underway. The golfers likely will have completed a few
holes by then.
The show is scheduled for three hours and the round is expected
to last about 30 minutes longer than that. If there's a playoff and
darkness becomes a factor, the 17th and 18th holes will be
artificially lighted.
