Barnes', Duval's U.S. Open bids look even more remarkable

Y.E. Yang's victory in the PGA Championship might have come in second in a comparison of improbabilities had Ricky Barnes or David Duval won the U.S. Open in June, as they threatened to do.

Barnes set a 36-hole scoring record (eight-under par 132), took a one-stroke lead into the final round, and eventually tied for second, two shots back of Lucas Glover.

Barnes had made only six of 12 cuts prior to the Open, and his best finish was a tie for 47th. Since the Open, he has tied for 59th, tied for 66th and missed three straight cuts. He's in a free fall on the money list, too, down to 105th, and barring an unforeseen turnaround is going to have a difficult time retaining his tour card for 2010.

Similarly, Duval, who also tied for second in the Open, has done nothing to indicate his performance at Bethpage Black was anything other than aberration. Duval missed the cut in his next two starts, then tied for 63rd in the Buick Open. He has fallen to 108th on the money list.

Each is entered in the Wyndham Championship this week and will need high finishes to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs.

-- John Strege

(Photo by Getty Images)