A Sore Back Sidelines Duval

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —  David Duval has to wait until at least next year for a chance to win his first major.

Duval, the No. 3-ranked player in the world, withdrew Tuesday from the PGA Championship because of continuing problems with a sore back.

Duval never reached Valhalla Golf Club, but stayed instead at Sun Valley, Idaho, where he was resting and exercising to relieve pain in his back.

An MRI exam taken to determine Duval’s ailment enabled doctors to diagnose the problem as a “ligament issue” in the region of his lower to middle back.

Last week at the International, Duval withdrew after playing six holes. He was also impaired at the British Open, where he tied for 11th.

His status is uncertain for next week’s event, the NEC Invitational.

Craig Stadler replaced Duval.

Bobby Nichols also withdrew. Nichols, the 1964 PGA champion from Louisville, has a bad hip. He was replaced by Greg Kraft. Steve Elkington, the 1995 PGA champion, withdrew Monday because of a hip injury and was replaced by Edward Fryatt.

Duval began complaining about his back after the U.S. Open, where he tied for seventh.

At the British Open, Duval conducted his interviews in the media room standing up in order to keep his back from tightening up.

“He and I were talking a little bit on the airplane coming back from the British Open and David said, ‘If this wasn’t a major championship there is no way I would have played,’ ” Tiger Woods said.

“Obviously, his back was pretty sore. I just hope he gets better.”

The 28-year-old from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., won four tournaments in 1999, but hasn’t won in 16 months. Duval’s best finish in a major was when he tied Fred Couples for second in the 1998 Masters, where Mark O’Meara won.

In that one, Duval had a three-shot lead after 15 holes, but finished bogey, par, par, while O’Meara birdied three of the last four holes.