Ben Curtis is now almost certain drop his European Tour membership after ending a six year PGA Tour winless drought in capturing the Valero Texas Open.
The proud Ohio born Curtis birdied the par-5 18th for a level par 72 and a nine-under victory total.
Victory for the 2003 British Open winner came in only his fourth PGA Tour event this year after he was afforded an invitation to tee up on the San Antonio course.
Ben Curtis ends a six-year winless drought in capturing the Valero Texas Open. (Photo - www.pgatour.com)
Curtis had joined the European Tour at the start of this year after losing full playing rights on the PGA Tour but will no longer need to play in Europe given he is now exempt in the States to the end of 2014.
The Ohio golfer, who earned a $US 1.116m first prize cheque and a two-year PGA Tour exemption, calmly hugged his caddie after coolly sinking the clinching 12-footer, but then fought back tears just moments later while being interviewed.
“It’s been a tough couple years just fighting through it,” said Curtis.
Curtis also earns a start in next year’s Masters at Augusta National.
Fellow American Matt Every, who posted a new course record of 63 on the first day, shared second in carding a final round 71 for a seven under par total.
NOTES FROM THE FINAL ROUND VALERO TEXAS OPEN
Shot of the day: Ben Curtis’ best shot of the day followed his worst. He bladed a wedge over the 17th green and his one-shot lead was about to evaporate. He chipped to 23 feet. With the tournament in the balance, Curtis rolled home the uphill, curling, left to right putt. He added a 12-foot birdie at the final hole, but it was his par putt at the 17th that won this tournament.
One that got away: Matt Every had a good week. His second-place finish means he’ll keep his card for 2013, but this is a tournament Every easily could have won. He bogeyed the 11th hole from 133 yards out in the middle of the fairway. He missed makeable birdie putts on both the 12th and 14th holes and then misfired from just 4 feet at the 16th. He did not make a birdie after the sixth hole. This was a tournament Every could have, perhaps should have, won.
Injured: John Huh was 9 over on his first eight holes of the tournament and yet played in the final group in the final round and had a chance to win. It’s even more impressive when you consider Huh played injured. He hurt his wrist during the tournament and is concerned enough to schedule a doctor’s exam and would not commit to any future tournaments. Huh declined to say how he injured the joint.
Hole locations: On Thursday, there was not a single hole location that was less than 5 feet from the edge of the green. That changed on Sunday when one-third of the cups were set four paces from the edge. The tight hole locations made it difficult for players to fire at the flagsticks.
By the numbers: Statistically, Ben Curtis was by far the best player in the field. He was second in fairways hit (42 of 56). He was first in greens in regulation (49 of 72). Curtis led the field in strokes gained-putting, he did not have a three-putt the entire week and did not miss a single putt of 5 feet or less. On Tuesday, Curtis moved his right hand a little more on top of his grip and with each putt he made, he became more and more confident until he finished the tournament with a 12-foot birdie on the 72nd hole.
