David Duval is battling to regain the form that made him the world's No. 1 golfer for 15 weeks during his peak period more than a decade ago.
(CNN) -- Golfers dream of winning their first major title -- it brings not only money, fame and a place in the history books, but also the confidence that more success will follow.
David Duval, however, might disagree.
Back in 2001, the American was celebrating his first major championship, delivering an unexpectedly emotional speech at Royal Lytham & St. Annes after his breakthrough win at the British Open.
However, he's still waiting for his next top-level victory, having fallen from the summit of the world rankings to 750th this season after making the halfway cut in just two of 12 starts on the PGA Tour. His last win of any kind was on his 30th birthday at a Japan Tour event in November 2001.
It's grim reading for a man who once shot the holy grail of 59, who has won 13 times on the U.S. circuit and is 40th in the PGA Tour's all-time standings with tournament earnings of almost $19 million.
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"Well, a lot of it really comes from injury, when you're fighting a nagging back injury," he told CNN's Living Golf show ahead of this week's return to the English course where he entered his name alongside those of golfing greats.
"It's still a problem. It's been 12 years now, started before that year, started in 2000, I've had tendonitis in my shoulders, my wrists, had some knee problems.
"As a professional golfer you get used to playing with some aches and pains, but when you're playing with aches and pains that impede what you're trying to do it becomes that much more difficult and it can wreck form.
"And my form was wrecked -- you start hitting the ball crooked and your confidence gets wrecked."
Against all odds
Despite his long wait for another victory, Duval still holds out hope that he can again lift a trophy.
He will make history if he does succeed at Royal Lytham -- the longest gap between British Open victories is 11 years, when Henry Cotton won his second title in 1937 and third in 48.
For those not affected by World War II, when no tournaments were played, the mark is nine years -- most recently achieved by Gary Player (1959-1968).
"I still have it in me. It hasn't always lined up as often as it did 10 years ago, but that comes when you lose a bit of confidence -- you get hurt, and it's hard to stay on that path," Duval said.
"I've put in the time, I've put in the effort. I still have the desire, so I think it could be another great week for me."
Turning back time
Duval rolled back the years when he tied for second at the 2009 U.S. Open, but he has not made the cut at the British major since tying for 39th the previous year.
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"I've been working very hard and I feel good about what I've been doing and I feel good about my chances at Lytham this year," the 40-year-old said.
"I'm really looking forward to getting there and playing, and there's no reason I can't start over where I got started."
Duval won by three shots in 2001, and stunned the gallery when he took off his trademark sunglasses and cap to make a heartfelt victory speech.
"It just came to me. I'd been playing (the British Open) since '95, and this year will be my 16th. My first experience over there at the Scottish Open at Carnoustie before the '95 Open at St. Andrews was a real eye-opener for me," he recalled.
"The galleries seemed to be that much more knowledgeable about the game, about the difficulty of shots you were facing, and I just kind of took it all in.
"Just because I wore a hat down low with sunglasses doesn't mean I can't be a nice person, you know I do it for a reason, and I just took them off, had an opportunity to and talked -- and it really did hit me just some of the experiences I'd had over the years there."
Future's so bright, gotta wear shades
No matter the gloomy British weather, expect to see Duval back in shades and hat for the July 19-22 tournament in Lancashire.
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"For some reason my eyes seem very sensitive to the light, and I always felt that it's easier to play golf like this than with your eyes squinting, to have them open all the way," he said.
"I wear contacts when I play. In college I kept getting a lot of dust and pollen in my eyes -- it was an issue and I was the only one to wear contacts -- and that was the impetus to put on a pair of sunglasses."
Duval expects Lytham's bunker-filled fairways to again pose a major test for the world's top golfers.
"I don't think it has kind of the reputation or fame of some of the other venues they have -- I'm not quite sure why," he said.
"The year I won I shot 10 under par and won by three strokes, and we had pretty nice weather, and I think that goes to the strength, the difficulty and the challenge of the golf course. You really do have to place the golf ball around.
"You have to go around the golf course like that, knowing what you're trying to do, knowing why you're trying to do that, and stick to it."
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This month he returns to the scene of his greatest triumph, Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in England where he made an emotional speech after winning the 2001 British Open.
The American claimed his only major championship to date as he negotiated his way around the tricky links course for a total of 10 under par.
He said the key was learning to be disciplined and sticking to a gameplan when faced with the inevitable bunker hazards.
The 40-year-old plays with trademark dark glasses due to his eyes' sensitivity to light.
He says it is easier to wear them, no matter the conditions -- such as here at the 138th British Open at Turnberry in 2009.
Duval was at his peak in 2001. Here he poses with Masters champion Tiger Woods, U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen and PGA Championship victor David Toms at the Grand Slam of Golf in Hawaii.
Duval was unable to stop Woods completing a "Tiger Slam" at the Masters earlier that year, finishing second -- two shots behind the world No. 1 -- at Augusta in April. They won the World Cup of Golf for the U.S. the previous year.
But he turned the tables at Royal Lytham in July 2001, winning by three shots as Woods finished back in 25th.
Tiger Woods of the United States waves to the crowd on the 18th green.
Webb Simpson hits his tee shot on the 13th hole of the 112th U.S. Open.
Jim Furyk of the United States tees off on the eighth hole Sunday.
Michael Thompson of the United States lines up a putt on the 18th hole.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland waits on the seventh green.
Jim Furyk of the United States reacts to a poor shot on the 12th hole.
Webb Simpson of the United States hits his tee shot on the eighth hole.
Tiger Woods walks to the eighth tee Sunday.
Graeme McDowell hits his second shot on the sixth hole.
Lee Westwood of England, left, and Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden walk off the fourth tee.
Jason Dufner of the United States watches his tee shot on the fourth hole.
Fredrik Jacobson smiles from the green on Sunday.
Jim Furyk hits his tee shot on the sixth hole.
Tiger Woods walks to the eighth tee on Sunday.
Ernie Els of South Africa reacts to a missed putt.
Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden plays a bunker shot on the second hole.
Jim Furyk of the United States hits his tee shot on the second hole.
Tiger Woods of the United States watches his tee shot on the third hole.
Tiger Woods hits a bunker shot on the first hole on Sunday.
Sergio Garcia of Spain tees off at the third hole.
Michael Thompson of the United States hits his tee shot on the third hole.
Amateur Beau Hossler of the United States hits his second shot on the first hole Sunday.
Jim Furyk of the United States plays a bunker shot on the second hole during the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday, June 16.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland hits a bunker shot on the fifth hole during the third round.
Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the third round.
Charlie Wi of South Korea hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday.
Raphael Jacquelin of France hits a bunker shot on the 17th hole during the third round.
Amateur Beau Hossler of the United States walks to the 18th green with his caddie, Bill Schellenberg.
John Peterson of the United States celebrates a hole-in-one on the 13th hole with his caddie, Gentry Mangun.
Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium hits his tee shot on the third hole Saturday.
Amateur Beau Hossler of the United States waits on the seventh hole Saturday.
Kevin Na of the United States reacts to a missed birdie putt on the seventh hole.
Ernie Els of South Africa plays a bunker shot on the seventh hole during the third round.
Ernie Els of South Africa hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the third round.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland waits on the eighth green during the third round.
Michael Thompson of the United States hits his tee shot on the eighth hole during the third round.
Charl Schwartzel of South Africa hits a shot during the third round.
David Toms of the United States hits a shot on the fifth hole Saturday.
Tiger Woods of the United States reaches for a golf ball on the practice ground.
Lee Westwood of England celebrates his birdie putt on the 18th hole Saturday.
Tiger Woods of the United States walks off the third tee during the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday, June 15.
Tiger Woods climbs out of a bunker on the sixth hole during the second round.
Tiger Woods of the United States lines up a putt.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson walk past one another during the second round.
David Toms of the United States hits his tee shot on the eighth hole.
Phil Mickelson walks off the eighth green.
Amateur Beau Hossler of the United States hits his tee shot on the seventh hole.
Beau Hossler celebrates a birdie on the seventh green.
Caddie Scott Gneiser watches David Toms of the United States line up a shot during the second round.
Beau Hossler hits his tee shot on the sixth hole.
Beau Hossler greets fans on the seventh hole.
Tiger Woods walks off the 18th green.
Tiger Woods plays a bunker shot on the 16th hole.
Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the eighth hole.
Tiger Woods hits a shot on the 16th hole.
Tiger Woods, left, and Bubba Watson of the United States wait on the first tee during the second round of the 112th U.S. Open on Friday.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks off the eighth green during the second round.
Luke Donald of England walks up a fairway with a group of caddies during the second round.
Justin Rose of England hits a shot during the second round of the 112th U.S. Open on Friday.
Golfers play the eighth hole during the second round.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 15th hole.
Jim Furyk of the United States watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits a shot from a bunker on the 10th hole during the second round of the 112th U.S. Open.
Justin Rose of England hits an approach shot on the fourth hole.
Matt Kuchar of the United States watches his tee shot Friday on the third hole as Ian Poulter of England and Steve Stricker of the United States look on with their caddies.
Casey Martin drives a golf cart off the first hole during the first round of the 112th U.S. Open on Thursday.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his second shot on the second hole during the first round of the 112th U.S. Open on Thursday.
Rickie Fowler of the United States hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during the first round.
Ian Poulter of England lines up a putt during the first round.
Hunter Mahan of the United States plays a bunker shot on the 17th hole during the first round.
Sergio Garcia of Spain watches his tee shot on the first hole during the first round.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland hits a shot on the first hole.
Lee Westwood of England hits his tee shot on the fourth hole as a gallery of fans look on.
Ryo Ishikawa of Japan hits his tee shot on the tenth hole.
Matt Kuchar of the United States watches his tee shot on the first hole.
Michael Thompson hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round.
David Toms watches a tee shot on the second hole during the first round.
Michael Thompson of the United States reacts to a putt during the first round.
Michael Thompson hits his tee shot on the second hole during the first round.
Tiger Woods watches his approach shot on the 18th hole during the first round .
Ireland's Padraig Harrington watches a shot during the first round.
Bubba Watson plays a shot on the second hole during the first round.
From left, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson wait on the 13th tee during the first round.The trio teed off together in what many called a "super group."
Woods tees off on the 10th hole Thursday.
Mickelson blasts out of the bunker on the 10th hole.
Fans watch the play during the first round of the U.S. Open.
J.B. Park of South Korea walks off the second tee during the first round.
Spectators watch as Mickelson heads up the hill to the tee on the ninth hole.
Surrounded by spectators, Woods watches a shot on the 18th tee.
Mickelson takes a shot on the 18th hole.
Woods, who was leading his group, hits his tee shot on the 13th hole Thursday.
Andy Zhang, a 14-year-old originally from China, hits a bunker shot on the second hole.
Kevin Na hits a shot to the 18th green.
Mickelson and Woods wait on the 11th green.
Mickelson reacts after his putt on the ninth hole Thursday.
In 2010, just a couple of months after winning the U.S. Open, Creamer flew in an F-16 fighter jet with Kristin Hubbard of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at the Air Force Reserve Base in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Creamer celebrates her 2010 U.S. Open win with her parents, Paul and Karen. Her dad was a Navy pilot for 22 years and will help in her new project to support the wives and families of soliders.
Creamer's favorite color is pink and she can often be seen sporting a U.S. flag on her shirt. She wore a pin on her lapel the entire time her cousin was on a tour of duty in Iraq.
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