BEN CURTIS stunned the world by winning The Open in 2003 while ranked 396th in the world.
The American went into the event, his Major debut, as a huge outsider at 500/1.
Ben Curtis got his hands on the Claret Jug in 2003
The American produced a stunning performance to win on his Major debut
In a field including greats like Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo – Curtis wasn’t given a prayer by the golfing community.
But the Ohio-born star produced the performance of his life, beating off competition from Thomas Bjorn to get his hands on the Claret Jug – and £700,000 in prize money.
Many of Curtis’ former peers on the PGA Tour have made their way to Royal Liverpool this week for the latest edition of The Open.
But the 46-year-old remains at home in Ohio – having hung up his clubs in 2017.
Curtis went on to win three further PGA Tour events after his Open triumph and was part of the US’ victorious 2008 Ryder Cup squad.
But he could never re-conjure the magic of 2003 in a Major.
Since turning his back on professional golf Curtis has gone down an unusual route for a former superstar – by coaching a high school team.
Curtis and wife Candace have two children together – with the former Open winner eventually roped in to coaching his son.
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Curtis won three further PGA Tour events after his major success
Speaking to the New York Times, he revealed: “My son was on the team, and the coach decided to retire.
“I got a call from the athletic director and I was like, ‘Well, who do you have in mind?’ And they were like, ‘You, and that’s it.’
“I asked them to take a couple of days and try to find someone. I didn’t want to put that pressure on my son, but he was like, ‘coach, Dad, coach.'”
Since his 2017 retirement, Curtis has also been running an academy in his native state.
On when he decided that life on tour was no longer for him, he added: “When the kids got to school age. When they were young and you could take them with you, it was great.
“Then they went to school and their schedule is limited, and you’re travelling and playing in these tournaments, and you’re alone.
‘IT BECOMES TOUGH’
“I never played a huge amount, but when you’re used to having them out for about 20, 22 events a year and suddenly it’s only for six or seven, and now you’re out there for 20, 22 events on your own, it becomes tough.
“It doesn’t matter how nice the resort is. Every hotel room, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a Ritz-Carlton or a Courtyard Marriott, it’s a rectangle room with a bathroom in it. And it’s tough on the family at home, too, because they want me home.”
Until he turns 60, Curtis is eligible to enter The Open each year as a former champion – but has not yet been tempted back.
On if he could ever be persuaded to give it another go, he told The Guardian: “All my friends keep hounding me about that. I’d probably need a new caddie for every shot because of the number of offers I have had.
“For now, there is no plan but things can change because, five years before I stopped playing golf, I would have said you were crazy if you told me I wouldn’t compete any more.
“If I’m going to go, it wouldn’t be for two days and to wave to the five people who follow me. If I’m going back, I need to feel I have a chance to be competitive and make the cut.
“I also don’t want to take a spot away from somebody who is trying to earn a living. If I do it, I need to feel ready to compete.”
On whether he’ll be watching goings on at Royal Liverpool from afar, he told the NYT: “It’s funny: It’s been seven years since I played, but I wake up now and realise it’s almost over.
“You totally forget. You get up and start doing your stuff, and it’s 2 o’clock and you think you’ll see what the golf is — and then it’s over.
“The first three years were like that, and I totally missed it. Now, I’ll watch it, and I enjoy it.”
Curtis called it a day in 2017 and now coaches a high school team
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you find watching professional players makes you better?
Watching pro players play makes you better at video games. Studying how others play can help improve your game and allow you to learn from their mistakes. You can also learn from the mistakes of professional players to improve your game.
Is golfing bad for me?
Golf is good for your health. Golf is actually quite healthy. Studies have shown that golfers live longer than those who don’t play. Golfers tend to be happier and less stressed than non-golfers.
How can I improve my score on golf?
These simple tips will help you improve your game of golf quickly and easily.
- Play less and practice more. If you want to get better at something, practice more. Playing too much means you’re practicing bad habits.
- You should play when you feel good. There are times when you just don’t feel like playing golf. Don’t force your self to do things you don’t like. Instead, find new ways to make playing golf enjoyable.
- Take breaks. Golfers frequently take breaks during the round to stretch and walk around, or eat lunch. Taking breaks helps your body relax and keeps you focused throughout the round.
- Drink water! It’s easy to lose track of how many drinks you’ve had while out on the course. Drink enough water to ensure you don’t become dehydrated. Hydration is key to feeling energized and ready to go for the next round.
- Be healthy. Eat healthy foods such fruits, vegetables, lean meat, whole grains and low-fat dairy products to give you energy, so you can perform well at the course.
- Stay hydrated. Water is the best thing to keep hydrated. At least eight glasses of water should be consumed each day. This includes water from beverages (such as coffee), as well as plain water.
- Get warm. Warm up for the round by moving or running for five minutes. You should then be flexible and agile.
- Keep your head down. It’s important that you keep your eyes focused on the ball when you tee-off. You should not be looking at the ball, or where it lands. Instead, keep your eyes on the hole.
- Proper form is key to a smooth and graceful swing. Different people may interpret proper form in different ways. But, generally speaking, you want to avoid swinging through your target. Instead, you should aim to strike the ball in the center of the club face.
- Keep your eyes on the process. Although there are many factors that influence a successful golf swing you should be able to focus on the process. To put it another way, if your hands are not still, you can try relaxing your grip. If balance is difficult for you, then work on improving your posture.
How can I improve my golf game overnight?
The best way to improve your golf game overnight is to practice for 20 minutes per day, three times a week. You must practice consistently if you want to perform well in any tournament. Practice makes perfect!
How do I lower my golf score by 5 strokes?
Improve your swing mechanics is the first thing that you should do. While you might be proficient at holding the club correctly, your body will not feel the same way. Once you’ve mastered this step, you’ll want to focus on improving your strength and flexibility. Start off slowly, working up to longer distances. As you work towards better scores, you’ll notice that your game will become more consistent.
What can I do to improve my golf game?
It is vital to practice regularly if you want to improve your game. Even if your time and resources are limited, you can still improve. Simply remember that you must always work towards practicing what you intend to do. Playing faster is the best way to improve your game. You should focus on hitting the target farther if you want to hit the shot faster.
Statistics
- However, if you go in thinking that you will get all the way down to a 10, you will likely stunt your progress because your expectations are way out of line. (practical-golf.com)
- By adding 10 more yards to all their golf shots amateurs will increase the percentage of greens they hit by 8 – 10%. (golfinsideruk.com)
- The blade aim at impact controls 92% of the ball’s start line, so prioritise face aim as a place to start (todaysgolfer.co.uk)
- Trackman found that over 65% of amateur’s golf shots finish short of the target from 160 yards. (golfinsideruk.com)
- According to Shot Scope’s database of more than 30 million shots, 80% of missed greens are missed short. (todaysgolfer.co.uk)
External Links
troy.golf
shotscope.com
nicklaus.com
blog.trackmangolf.com
How To
How can I improve my putting skills?
There are many things you could do to improve your putting. It is important to get quality instruction from someone who knows the ropes. You can find out how to find a golf instructor if you don’t have anyone to teach you. If you find someone you like, you can ask them if private lessons are available. Make sure to examine their schedule so that you don’t accidentally book something that isn’t compatible with another lesson.
One of these pro shops can help you rent clubs: Golf Galaxy, TaylorMade and Titleist.
Next, you need to start practicing after receiving instruction. There are two ways you can go about this. You could first buy a set and start hitting the balls into holes with them. This is great as you can choose between different types of putters (long, mid, and wedge), depending on which shots you’re most comfortable with. If you don’t spend enough money on equipment, it won’t take you long to get really good at putting.
Another way to practice is to play mini games online. Some sites let you compete against players around the world, while others just allow you to practice your short game. Putt-Putt is a game where you need to hit a ball in a hole. TopGolf, StrokePlay and Wii Sports Club are some of the other websites.
Once you have enough practice, you can move on the next step of improving your putting. This would be improving your technique. To achieve this, you will need to work on three aspects of your putting stroke: grip, alignment and stance.
Stance refers primarily to the way you look at the ball. The most common mistake beginner’s make is to be too close. As you face the ball, your body should be away from it until you start moving forward. Your feet should be at shoulder width and slightly bent.
You should have your hands open and relaxed. Your hands should not be closed or clasped. Instead, you should place your hands on the top of your shoulders.
Your arms should be straight but not locked down. They should remain loose throughout the entire stroke of putting.
Alignment refers the degree to which your hips move as you swing through a shot. Many people rotate their hips so much that it is difficult to align properly. Your knees may bend slightly when you are aiming for the target. Your hips will turn towards the target as you swing through the shot.
Grip is the way you place your fingers on the clubface. Many people have trouble gripping the club correctly. Your index finger should be placed on the bottom edge, and your middle finger on the top. Your ring finger should be placed on the side of the shaft, while your pinky finger should be positioned above the line of the handle .
You may also want to consider buying a new putter. A new model might help your game, even though all putters don’t work the same.
