BOB TORRANCE, a masterly coach who knows about such things, calls him "the most underrated player in the world". Which comes as no surprise to the man himself. Ben Curtis, major champion, Ryder Cup player and currently ranked the 33rd best golfer on the planet, is used to flying under the radar. Indeed, ever since one hot July week in 2003, when he appeared almost literally from nowhere to win the Open Championship at Royal St Georges, this unassuming American – who turns 32 on Tuesday
"I understand the reaction to my win in the Open," he shrugs. "It was a bit of a shock to me too! I knew I could win on tour but I didn't think it would happen so soon. And I certainly didn't know I was going to have success on a links; until 2003
I had hardly played any seaside golf. Now I love it, of course.
"So I don't think I'm due any kind of apology for how my victory at Sandwich was received. I certainly have never felt like I had to prove anyone wrong. My motivation has always come from inside. I just concentrate on getting better. And I have, especially on the tougher courses."
That much is true. Following up his unlikely triumph in Kent, Curtis has very quietly notched up top-ten finishes in each of the last two Opens. And last year he tied for second with Sergio Garcia in the USPGA Championship at the fearsome Oakland Hills, two shots behind Padraig Harrington. At least at the very highest level of the game, Curtis is doing something right.
"I'm not a guy who makes five or six birdies a round," he admits. "I'm not sure why that is. Maybe I put too much pressure on myself. I like events where level par is in contention. And that typically means the majors. If I shoot level par in every one I might win two every year."
Still, for all that he has emerged as one of the game's better players, there is no doubt that the man from Ohio – he was born in Columbus, hometown of Jack Nicklaus – suffered something of a reaction to his sudden elevation from hopeful to happening back in '03. For at least 18 months, the naysayers who had loudly decried this unknown upstart's cheek in winning the world's oldest and most important championship were given plenty of ammunition as their target missed more cuts than he made.
"I didn't play well for maybe two years after I won," he concedes. "But I look on that time as a learning period for me; every player has those. And I didn't mind struggling; I always had confidence I would play well again.
"The great thing about winning the Open was that I got to play both tours, in the States and Europe. I could play wherever I wanted for a year. I went all over, to great and fascinating places like Japan, France and Thailand.
"The downside was that I felt more pressure than I would have. I knew what was being said about me and it was hard sometimes not to try too hard. I also did too much in trying to be something I wasn't. My game went back because of all the media attention more than anything. I'd be at the course for six to eight hours, go home and wonder if I had hit any practice balls. Plus, it took me a little while to get used to the idea that my bad score was news. If I shot 65 it was like that was what I was supposed to do; if I took 75 it was like 'what's the matter with this kid?' It's unfair but that's the way it is or was."
One thing that has not changed since his game started to come around is Curtis's very un-American willingness to travel. This week he is at Wentworth for the PGA Championship and he'll play next week's European Open also, before returning to these shores in July for both the Scottish Open and the Open.
"The Race to Dubai is an intriguing thing," he says. "The money involved in that is part of what I'm here for but I see this more as a challenge to see how well I can do on both tours. It would be cool to play in the (PGA] Tour Championship then make it to Dubai as well.
"I think there are three or four other guys trying to do the same. Anthony Kim is one. But there aren't many, I know. I'm not sure why that is really. I know there's a lot of money on offer on the PGA Tour, but it isn't as if you can't make a lot of money over here too.
"Maybe it's the travel. I know a lot of Americans don't like flying overseas. Then there's the weather. But, that aside, I think the European Tour is great. I love the competition. I look around and see many of the world's best players here. Competing with guys like Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey, Lee Westwood and Robert Karlsson can only make me better. A lot of guys in the States think it is easier to win over here, but I don't think so. You still have to play great for four days. And the winning scores are always tough. It might be easier to make the cut, but winning is hard."
Another benefit of Curtis's improved play was his debut in last year's Ryder Cup matches at Valhalla. As part of US captain Paul Azinger's much-vaunted "pod" system, Curtis was one of four "unflappables" or "silent assassins" alongside Stewart Cink, Steve Stricker and Chad Campbell.
"The Ryder Cup was fantastic," he enthuses about an event in which he played three matches and emerged with a 50 per cent record, including a 2&1 win over Lee Westwood in the last-day singles. "Every player strives to get on the team. It was everything I expected and more. It was certainly tiring. By the end, I was exhausted. The nerves are right up there with the last nine holes at a major, but not quite as bad. They can't be when you have partners and team-mates to help you out. But it is certainly different.
"The camaraderie was great. I loved listening to Boo (Weekley]'s stories. And getting to know the guys better was fun. The guys in my pod were great to be around. It was a concept that made sense. None of us has much to say."
As for the future, Curtis is driven more by a general desire for improvement than a specific need to lift a second Grand Slam title.
"Winning another major isn't a big priority for me," he insists. "I was asked at the USPGA last year if I needed to win another to validate my win at the Open. I was like, 'are you kidding me?' If I don't win another one the rest of my career I'll still sleep good at night. If anyone thinks I need to win another one to prove I won the first one, so be it."
The full article contains 1210 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
