Duval finding his form again

Japan Tour: Former world number one David Duval shot a six-under-par 64 to lead the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan yesterday.

The American, whose career went into an almost terminal decline after winning the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes, leads by one from defending champion and current world number one Tiger Woods.

Duval has struggled with back problems which caused him to alter his swing and, as a result, his game fell to pieces, and in 2004 he took a seven-month break from the circuit.

But he has been easing his way back and, although he made only one cut on the PGA Tour this season, his return to the Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki, where he won in 2001, sparked a remarkable recovery.

Starting on the back nine, he birdied the par-three 11th and the par-four 13th, before picking up further shots at the short 17th and par-five 18th to turn in 31 having found his form on the greens.

That was the start of a run of five birdies in six holes, including a chip-in at the par-four first, and although he carded back-to-back bogeys at the fifth and sixth, Duval finished with his eighth birdie of the day to come home in 33, with a remarkable 24 putts for his round.

By comparison, Woods, the best in the world on the greens, took 29 putts in his round of 65 which included six birdies and one bogey.

"I played well," Duval said. "I've been playing well for about a month now but just haven't been scoring well.

"I'm well aware of how I've played over the past few years but I've worked hard and it's good to start a tournament not behind the eight-ball."

On Duval, Woods said: "It's been tough to watch. David is a friend of mine, we played in two World Cups together and he has really struggled, but it looks like he's showing signs of getting his game back together."

Colin Montgomerie is seven shots off the lead on one over after just two birdies and three bogeys. Peter Lawrie shot a 74.