Eagle sends Curtis's spirits soaring as American targets second Open title

NOTHING will beat the day Ben Curtis became the shock winner of the 2003 Open at Royal St George's but a second Claret Jug today would come pretty close.

The Ohio 31-year-old stunned the golfing world when, as the then unknown world No.396, he rose through the field for a one-stroke victory over Thomas Bjorn and Vijay Singh.

Curtis became the first player since Tom Watson in 1975 to win the Open on their debut. He subsequently missed his next three Open cuts but returned to form with a tie for eighth at Carnoustie last year.

Having started yesterday joint 38th on seven over, he carded a level-par 70, which included an eagle two at the third when he holed his 165-yard approach with a nine iron. With winds gusting up to 45mph in the afternoon, that put him well in touch with the leaders. But despite such impressive scoring in testing conditions, nothing would ever compare with his experience at St George's.

"It is not really the same as 2003, dealing with the pressure and to play the way I did on a Sunday afternoon in a major in your first time around," said the American, who opened with an eight-over-par 78 on Thursday before turning things round with a 69 on Friday.

Unsurprisingly, the Open is the tournament Curtis loves most and he is excited by the prospect of being in contention once again.

"It is going to be fun going out there tomorrow. If I had a chance of winning another major, this would be it."

Curtis rated Saturday's conditions as the worst he had endured.

"That is about as tough as I have played. I probably didn't hit it as well as yesterday or Thursday but the hardest part of the day was making putts," he added. "Par out there is anywhere from mid to high 70s."

Of his eagle at the 451-yard third he said: "I heeled it and I thought it was going in the front, right bunker. When I looked up it was right of the pin but it held its line and when people started clapping I thought maybe it had carried the bunker. Then all of a sudden we walked 10 more yards and they went crazy."

Curtis's playing partner Phil Mickelson was impressed by his compatriot's round. "I thought Ben Curtis played a great round of golf. His round was incredible," said the three-time major winner, who had a 76 to sit 13 over.