ALMOST EVERYONE WANTS A PEACE OF DUVAL.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

It gets a little noisy out at Riviera Country Club sometimes, but nothing seems to be disturbing David Duval's peace.

Not even when a spectator shouts, ``Hey, shoot a 58!''

Duval didn't even break stride at that challenge/compliment Thursday. He just kept strolling down the 10th fairway and recorded his birdie en route to a five-under-par 66, which tied Bob Estes for the first-round lead at the Nissan Open.

After winning two tournaments last month and shooting an eye-catching 59 in the final round of the Bob Hope Classic, Duval was expected to be atop the leaderboard. And you can include Duval in that assumption.

``I just can tell you I'm out there at peace and playing well,'' Duval said. ``I don't know if I feel in a zone.''

It sure seems like something special, if not quite a ``zone.'' Duval could have easily shot a 64, but had putts lip the cup on the 13th and 16th holes.

And his recovery on the 12th hole typifies how good things are going. After a poor drive landed in the trees, Duval had to twist his body just to address the ball, which laid next to a large eucalyptus.

Duval hit his approach shot long, but it bounced off a spectator and landed safely on the fringe, enabling him to record par.

``I don't think what I'm doing is beyond my capabilities,'' Duval said. ``I do expect to go out there and play well.''

The only time Duval hasn't felt like he would have a memorable round was the day he shot his unforgettable 59.

``I just didn't feel like I had energy (before the round), then it disappeared,'' Duval said. ``Usually I have a feeling of how I'll play.''

With two tour victories in four appearances, Duval is currently No. 2 in the World Golf Rankings behind Tiger Woods, who shot a 69 on Thursday. Woods vaulted to No. 1 after he won the Buick Invitational last weekend.

Plenty of observers are eager to kindle a Woods-Duval rivalry and add a little spark to the often bland assortment of winners on the PGA Tour. But Duval quickly dismisses any questions about his rivalry with Woods.

``I appreciate the desire to have a rivalry, but at the same time I think it's a bit disrespectful to other people,'' Duval said. ``To not mention them is disrespectful.''

So Duval did, singling out Mark O'Meara, Ernie Els and Davis Love III among others.

Besides, just how good a rivalry is this? Woods may have won the Buick Invitational, but Duval was up in Idaho on his snowboard, taking some time off. In fact, snowboarding and skiing have become almost as much a passion for Duval as golf, if not as lucrative.

``Actually, I like doing it so much that I don't think about playing golf,'' Duval said. ``But when I come back, I appreciate that I'm playing even more.''

Duval's winter hobbies have convinced him that taking a break is as essential as any other aspect of his preparation. And no one will dispute him, considering his recent track record.

``You have to stop playing,'' Duval said. ``I've learned it's as important to stop as to hit a bucket of balls.''

So in the next few weeks, Duval plans at least one more ski trip, even if he shoots another 59.

``I've always been drawn to the mountains,'' he said.

That's nice, but let's get back to this rivalry thing. In golf's version of the top 25, who's No. 1? Duval or Woods?

Duval won't say.

``I've played as well as anybody the last 15-20 months, you can't take that away from me,'' Duval said.

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Photo: DAVID DUVAL

The hottest player on the PGA Tour feels he's in something of a zone lately, proving it with a 66 on Thursday for a share of the lead.