If not exactly in kiss and make up mood, David Duval and the Royal and Ancient - and not the "Rough and Angst" as some rechristened the game's governing body - finally found something on which to agree as the world's number two player timidly finished his latest quest for a major.
Strangely enough, it was the British tabloid press that provided the fusion to unite the two.
"I'm surprised that the tabloids get credentials for this championship," fumed Duval, who felt he had been burnt by them in misrepresenting his comments about the Carnoustie course. "I spoke to the R & A about the way that I was misquoted. They said: `Don't worry, it happens to us all the time'."
Duval expanded: "I stand by everything I actually said, not what was reported. I feel I was targeted."
Yet, even before he finished his round, Duval was already looking ahead to a return to the US Tour for this week's Greater Hartford Open. Other Americans, meanwhile, have other things on their minds rather than a return to competitive duty on home soil. After play last evening, Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara and Jim Furyk were among those who boarded a private jet at Luchars airstrip to fly to Sweden for a match between US players and Scandinavian competitors.
`I stand by everything I actually said, not what was reported. I feel I was targeted' - David Duval on his conflicts with the R & A and the British tabloid press.
