By Dave Tindall, Sportinglife.com

Turning the maddest scramble for an Open championship into a one-horse race is no mean feat.

But David Duval did just that on Sunday as he added his name to the game's oldest trophy with a magnificent display of controlled golf.

Seven back at halfway, Duval got one hand on the claret jug on Saturday as he raced to the top of the leaderboard with a scintillating third round 65.

Later, in his press conference, he wore the look of a man whose day of destiny awaited and it came as no surprise when he got both hands on the trophy 24 hours later.

Shedding the 'Best Player Not To Have Won A Major Tag' is sure to come as a mighty relief and that baton now passes into the hands of Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie.

Poor old Colin. After powering to a first round 65, Monty's bid to win a first major petered out rather sadly.

After the raucous shouts of 'Come on Monty' which were such a feature of the first three days it ended only in sympathetic applause as another chance went begging.

And sympathies must also go to Jesper Parnevik. Like a runner in the Grand National, Parnevik's ears always prick up when he arrives at the Open but, as with Monty, his putter just wouldn't heat up when he needed it most.

In the end they both limped into the clubhouse but even if they had found something extra on the final day, this tournament always looked like going to Duval once he started his birdie charge early on Saturday.

When Duval finally won his first US Tour event, he went on the sort of hot streak that even Tiger would have admired.

He won the very next week at the Walt Disney and, after taking a week off, he made it three in a row at the prestigious Tour Championship.

Duval couldn't stop winning after that and racked up another eight wins between the end of the 1997 and the 1999 US Masters.

He even dislodged Tiger as the world No1.

So the fascinating question Sunday's victory poses, is can he do something similar in the Majors.

If he can, we could be looking at the next big duel in golf – something the game hasn't seen since Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson tried to whip each other's butts in the late 70s and early 80s.

It's about time Tiger had a player that could challenge him consistently in majors.

Paul Lawrie and Retief Goosen had their moments in the sun but neither would ever give Woods sleepless nights.

But it could be a different story with Duval.

Although the two's friendship off the course has blossomed in the last year, it won't effect either man's desire to give the other a sound beating on it.

Tiger, of course, will continue to be quoted at around 2/1 for any major he contests.

But if you're serious about making money on golf I offer this advice.

Whatever form he's in and whatever the weather conditions, back Duval in every major for the next five years.

Sunday's triumph at Lytham is only the start.

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