'It's just hard to believe'

Curtis' Open win creates crazy excitement in hometown of Kent, Ohio

07/20/03 2:45pm EDT
OSTRANDER, Ohio (AP) -- As Thomas Bjorn's putt slid to a stop inches short of the 18th hole, the clubhouse at Mill Creek Golf Club erupted.

Ben Curtis had just won his first PGA tournament -- the British Open.

Curtis, 26, was on the practice tee preparing for a possible playoff when Bjorn's putt missed, making Curtis' 1-under-par 283 good enough to win.

"There was no way in the world I thought he would get there," said his father, Bob Curtis. "I thought he would compete, make the cut maybe, get some good rounds in and experience what goes on in a championship. But to win it? No way."

With tears in his eyes, Curtis thanked his family during a short acceptance speech at Royal St. George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England, holding the famed Claret Jug in the air.

Mr. Curtis had been out mowing greens, so he didn't see the entire final round. But he made sure that he had a seat in front of the 25-inch television for much of the round as people crowded around in the clubhouse.

"I wanted to see his reaction when he got the trophy," Mr. Curtis said. "The only thing is, he forgot to kiss the trophy."

Calling it a "rookie mistake," Mr. Curtis said he'd be there the "next time."

Family and friends gathered to watch Curtis, whose grandfather built the course about 25 miles north of Columbus in 1973, gain his first top 10 finish on the PGA tour and win the first major tournament he played in.

There's a collection in the clubhouse of memorabilia dedicated to Ben, and his father said that he hoped they could have a new addition to it -- at least temporarily.

"Maybe he'll drop off the claret jug sometime and let us borrow it," Mr. Curtis said.

Curtis' mother, Janice, said she was confident that he'd do well, but wasn't sure he'd be able to win.

"It's just hard to believe," Mrs. Curtis said. "I need to wake up."

Curtis' previous best finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for 13th at the Western Open two weeks ago. Curtis is a two-time Ohio Amateur champion, winning in 1999 and 2000. In 2000, he set a record by winning by 17 strokes.

The only other two players to win the Ohio Amateur two years in a row since 1950 are John Cook and Arnold Palmer.

Curtis played collegiate golf at Kent State.

Walt Humes, the starter at the club and one of about 70 people celebrating at the clubhouse Sunday afternoon, said "it's hard to put into words," what Curtis did.

Club member Ken Reamy said that Curtis' win was a "beautiful thing."

"I've been watching this since 7 a.m. this morning," Reamy said. "I couldn't pull myself away from the TV at my house, but after I saw he won it, I had to run down here and celebrate with my friends."