By Phil Casey, PA Sport

David Duval believes there is plenty more to come after claiming his first major title in the Open championship at Royal Lytham.

Duval rid himself of the tag of 'best player not to have won a major' in impressive style with a three-stroke victory over Niclas Fasth, the Swede almost certainly securing his place in the European Ryder Cup team as a result.

And he intends to make sure it will be the first of many after savouring a moment he believed would be so much sweeter after several near misses in the past, with seven top 10s in the majors.

"I don't know if everyone believed me but I did mean it," added Duval, who only knew he had a three-shot lead when he looked at the leaderboard on the 18th.

"And when I said mine would come I wasn't thinking one, I meant several. If anything this will intensify my drive, the desire to do it again.

"I can't really explain what it means to me. People have mentioned that I had one arm in the green jacket (presented to winners of the Masters) before because I was so close and it means a lot.

"I felt a lot calmer this week than I did at Augusta in 1998 (when he held a two-shot lead at one stage in the final round) and also this year (second behind Woods).

"I think as much as anything I realised that it's still a silly old game. We're just playing a round of golf.

"I thought to myself it's funny how much is made of it because you are playing a game. Maybe that's why I felt so good today because I finally realised it's still a game."

Duval, who was only level par after two rounds but 10 under par for the last two with a 65 on Saturday and 67 on Sunday, now hopes that a psychological barrier has been broken and more major championships will follow.

"I hope that happens," added Duval, who felt he should not have played the final round at St Andrews last year because of a back injury even though he was in the final group and the only player to seriously challenge Tiger Woods. "It happened with winning on tour.

"It does not make it easier physically but you just know yourself what it takes and what the feelings are. I'll know that even better heading into the next majors."

Twelve months ago Duval could only look on as Woods cradled the Claret Jug as the two shared a private jet back to Florida after the world number one's eight-stroke victory at St Andrews.

"I got to look at it closely and see where his name is and I like the position of my name right below his. It looks like it's in the right spot," said the American.

"When you beat him and the other players on that board it's maybe how the players felt when they beat Jack Nicklaus or Tom Watson. They know they've beaten the best player.

"You can argue if he is the best player ever or best player of the generation. Time will tell that. You know I beat them all this week and played really good.

"It feels wonderful."

After taking the lead with his second birdie on the sixth Duval always looked in control, even when Miguel Angel Jimenez briefly closed the gap to one shot and Darren Clarke got within two shots before a double bogey on the 17th.

And his only worrying moment came when he had to battle his way through the crowds which swarmed onto the 18th fairway.

"It's a wonderful experience," added Duval, who was the only player to really threaten Woods' last year in the Open before taking four shots in the Road Hole bunker and running up a quadruple bogey eight.

"You don't want to get trampled but I was pretty well protected and this is different from the other majors.

"I remember getting up and watching it come on television, it came on early back home in Florida, and realising what different golf it was than I was used to.

"The courses looked different, dust and grass flying, the atmosphere looked different. You did not see anybody having to carry it over lakes.

"I loved it when I came over the first time in 1995. I was lucky to experience my first Open at St Andrews and got a nice taste of Scottish golf the week before at Carnoustie."

Ian Woosnam had to settle for a share of joint third on six under after being penalised for having too many clubs in his bag seconds after a birdie on the first gave him a momentary share of the lead, alongside Clarke, Bernhard Langer, Jimenez, Ernie Els and American Billy Mayfair.