Dude, you just won the Claret Jug. That would be Ben Curtis, the 26-year-old golfer from Ohio, not Steve, the Dell spokesman who shares the same name. Curtis shot a 2-under-par 69 on Sunday to win the British Open in Sandwich, England.
Curtis, who played on the Hooters Tour last year and is currently ranked 396th in the world, got some help throughout his round to complete his Cinderella story. Thomas Bjorn, the pride and joy of Denmark and leader throughout most of the final round, needed three shots to get out of a bunker on 16 and carded a double bogey.
This was the first British Open that Curtis has ever played in, and he became the first player since Francis Ouimet in 1913 to win a major in his first attempt. Because his winnings count toward the PGA Tour's money list, this clutch win will probably secure him a spot on the PGA Tour next year.
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
