Curtis back in the spotlight at US PGA

Open champion Ben Curtis – not a phrase anybody in golf expected to be using a month ago – steps back into the limelight tomorrow.

The 26-year-old American who stunned the sporting world at Royal St George’s by winning his first-ever major now plays his second, the US PGA championship at Oak Hill in Rochester, New York.

Curtis, who tees off alongside Masters winner Mike Weir and US Open champion Jim Furyk, has only to reflect on the past few weeks to realise what Sandwich did for him. Aside from making him very rich, that is.

He has been on a network chat show – he suffered a slip of the tongue by talking about the “aroma” around Tiger Woods when he meant the aura – received a letter of congratulations from Jack Nicklaus and met President George Bush at the White House.

“We just reflected on the tournament and he kind of went over what the Oval Office means to the United States and each President,” said Curtis.

“He just went over a history of where he came from and how he got there. He was just a nice guy and you could ask him anything you wanted.”

Now, though, it is back to business for the US Tour rookie who was ranked 396th in the world before the Open but who now, suddenly, has celebrity status and a career that will be followed wherever he plays.

“It’s been very hectic the last few weeks, but it’s been a lot of fun at the same time.

“Obviously when you come off a major win and this is the next major you are asked to play well – I try not to worry about it, just go out there and play my game and have a good time and hopefully shoot a good number.

“It’s pretty cool to be Ben Curtis, Open champ. I am enjoying it and I am getting more comfortable each day.

“I am just taking it one day at a time. There is a risk you can accept too much too quickly, but I’m just letting the managers take care of that and advise me of what I should do. Hopefully some more opportunities will come about.”

There is no doubt about that. Next week, for instance, Curtis plays his first world championship, the NEC Invitational in Akron, close to his home. That is fortuitous as Saturday week is also his wedding day.

“The course is just 20 minutes away, so hopefully that won’t be a factor. We didn’t really change anything – we just hope everything runs smoothly with the weather and that’s the biggest issue,” he said.

Curtis and fiancee Candace had the Open claret jug between them on the journey back from Britain. “We kind of had our hands on it at all times,” he added.