Curtis the most unlikely of winners

American rookie Ben Curtis became one of the most unlikely major winners in history with his one-shot victory at the British Open on Sunday and even he could not believe his good fortune.

He had played just two rounds of links course golf before the start of the week, and narrowly qualified for Royal St George's as one of the top eight finishers at last month's Western Open of those not already exempt.

"I'm one of the few who have had the opportunity to do it (win a major) in the world, and I did it at my first attempt," said the 26-year-old from Ohio, whose closing 69 proved to be too good for the stumbling finish by Denmark's Thomas Bjorn.

The Dane threw away a three-shot lead over the last four holes, ending up with a one-over-par 72 and a tie for second with Vijay Singh.

"I just got a lot of lucky breaks and some that didn't go my way," said Curtis, who became the first player to win on his British Open debut since compatriot Tom Watson at Carnoustie in 1975.

"This is the greatest tournament in the world and I'm glad to be the champion. But I'll wake up tomorrow morning and I'll be a different man.

"I came here this week just trying to play the best I could and to make the cut. I did that and probably played the best week's golf of my life."

Curtis, a 300-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, said he first sensed he could win after completing the treacherous second nine at Royal St George's in three-under-par 32 in Saturday's third round.

"I knew yesterday afternoon, when I was going well on the back nine, I had a chance of victory," he said.

"But today, it was hard coming in, and maybe I played a little too conservative. I should have just fired at the flags like I had been doing all week."

Curtis had been in superb form for the first 11 holes on Sunday, deft approach play and sure putting setting up six birdies.

"I was just in a zone and very focused on what I was doing," he said. "I just can't describe how I feel."

Although the Ohio professional struggled on the sun-baked second nine, dropping four shots in his six holes, he knew it would be just as tough for Bjorn playing three groups behind.

By the time Curtis reached the last, he was one under for the day and determined to hole a seven-foot putt for par.

"I knew that I needed that putt on 18 to have a chance," he said. "But I didn't know that it was going to be the winning putt."

As he walked off the final green, the American heard that Bjorn had double-bogeyed the par-three 16th. When the Dane also bogeyed 17, the outcome was effectively decided.

Asked what experience he had of links course golf, Curtis replied: "Practically none.

"I played two rounds in a tournament in Germany in 2000 on a links course similar to this, but that's all."

This week, though, that preparation proved to be enough as rank outsider Curtis clinched his first victory in the top flight at the world's oldest championship.

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