PINEHURST, N.C. – The last time the U.S. Open was played at Pinehurst, in 1999, David Duval was the kingpin of the PGA Tour, ranked No. 1 and having halted Tiger Woods’ streak of 41 consecutive weeks with the World No. 1 ranking.

Duval and Woods seemed destined at the time to be dueling as rivals for years to come.

These days, however, Duval is an afterthought on the PGA Tour while Woods and Vijay Singh have flip-flopped the No. 1 ranking, something Woods currently owns entering this week’s U.S. Open.

As for Duval, who hasn’t won a tournament since he captured the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham, he’s merely trying to survive and advance through a Friday cut, having lost his swing and, more important, his confidence.

In eight tournaments played this year, Duval, the same man who shot 59 in a final round to win the 2001 Bob Hope, has yet to make a cut. During that span he is 106-over par in 18 rounds.

During those rounds, Duval’s scoring average is 77.78. Of those 18 rounds, he has one below par and four in the 80s and has not earned a dime in winnings.

Duval, who hasn’t played an event since the Masters, has missed the cut at the last three U.S. Opens, including last year when he shot 83-82 and was 25 over par at Shinnecock Hills.

Duval is trying to get his old swing back by going back to his former college coach, Puggy Blackmon.

An indication of how far Duval has fallen is displayed in an ESPN.com rating of the 156 players in the Open field. Duval is rated dead last behind the likes of Conrad Ray, Clint Jensen, John Mallinger, Jerry Smith, Jim Benepe, Scott Gibson, Eric Meichtry, John Merrick, Kyle Willman, Sal Spallone and Pierre-Henri Soero.