Ben Curtis wins at Royal St George's | The Open Official Film 2003

Ben Curtis was the first player to register for The Open at Royal St George’s in 2003 and the only player to visit the pro shop to ask the club professional about the course.
The local knowledge was vital for a links first-timer. Curtis was 26, from Ohio, and ranked 396th in the world. He had played just 13 events in his rookie season on the PGA TOUR and gained an exemption for The Open by finishing 13th in the Western Open two weeks previously. On a bouncy links that caused even the best numerous problems, Curtis came home in 32 in the third round, went out in 32 in the final round and led by two with seven to play before making four bogeys in the next six holes. But others also struggled, Thomas Bjorn taking three to escape a bunker at the 16th, and he beat Bjorn and Vijay Singh by one and Tiger Woods and Davis Love by two.
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[@richlewis1879]

Watching this live years ago, for Ben Curtis to hold it together and win was mind-boggling. This is what being a professional golfer is all about. Something he'll hold on to clearly for the rest of his life. Well done man

[@ohbie]

Buckeye valley represent lol played at the same high school as ben and our golf team finished 5th in the state my junior year. Dudes a legend in my hometown for winning this open. Also worked at the course his family owns for a summer, couldn’t be nicer people. If you find yourself near Ostrander, Ohio you gotta go play 18.

[@azapro911]

One of the all-time great upsets in sport, let alone golf.

[@garyroberts3859]

It’s a monster of a links, played it in 2005 when I was 60 years old…80 something, from Australia

[@moody_blue682]

Bjorn buckled under the pressure, simple as that. Doug Sanders in 1970, Jean Van de Velde in 1999, Tom Watson in 2009 and Adam Scott in 2012 have all done the same in the Open. That is the beauty and the agony of pro golf and why I love watching the majors.

[@Dreama40]

Norman in 96

[@moody_blue682]

@@Dreama40Sure, but I was only quoting well-known collapses in the (British) Open and Greg Norman's meltdown was in the '96 US Masters.

[@allthekingshorses7178]

And you can count Lee Westwood in every major

[@jammielettgolf5154]

Give Ben curtis some credit , sure Bjorn may have buckled , but Curtis also had 6 birdies and shot lowest score of the day (69) .in his first mayor mind you . Totally agree with you tho this is why the mayor's (especially the open) is so fun to watch !

[@colbyg1784]

This guy holds the course record at my local golf course Hemlock Springs in Geneva, Ohio. 64

[@andyburge7358]

I so feel for Mark Roe - yes thems the rules and Mark's courageous and honest reaction says what a man he is - but boy is Golf harsh .. For the record, the second time I played at RSG, I stuck my ball in the same bunker as Bjorn at the 16th. I holed the bunker shot .. that's golf for you ..

[@SiLoMixMaster]

Links pot bunkers are a nightmare, great job holing that one on the 16th

[@Diego-Delgado]

Lot of people see Ben as the most unlikely player to win a major. But Ben really did have a good career. 4 time winner including this major. Made a ryder cup team. Runner up in a other major. Runner up at the players championship. Made the FedEx cup playoffs. Dude was a pretty accomplished player.

[@rodsmith8118]

Unlike Shaun Micheel who didn't win another tournament worldwide after the 2003 PGA Championship.

[@salfordnick5336]

Spot on...was only 26 when he won the open. Had a really good career

[@thenumberquelve158]

Of course the guy from Kent wins it in Kent. I guess in hindsight it was the perfect place to break through. And with all those Hall of Famers grinding it out just beneath him, too!

[@jammielettgolf5154]

Ben curtis WON the British open , he had 6 birdies and shot the lowest round in the final round (69) and he made par when he needed to and in his 1st mayor!! Tiger, Vijay, Davis all those guys had same chance but they couldn't shoot a lower score , I still don't understand why people won't give him ultimate credit here, it's not like the course all of sudden got harder once he finished lol 15 mins behind him everyone was shitting their ass . So good on Ben , maybe the nicest guy that's ever played professional golf, incredible human and amazing player. Don't forget he also could've won a PGA and he also won.ryder cup and beat lee Westwood I'm singles. It's not like it was fluke

[@dancrenshaw4089]

Bjorn, Ben Curtis win when it is a hot putter contest. At this point Tiger the same; video should show Ernie Els, Sergio and Faldo. They actually played difficult shots of major (not this) set-ups.

[@Handletaken4]

The rough is 4”! FFS it was 36” today. Hey Bjorn, hit a fairway.

[@richlewis1879]

So Ben Curtis knows he's pretty much out of it on 18. He makes that putt for par, that's great. He had no clue what Thomas Bjorn was doing behind him. I honestly feel if Ben knew what that putt was truly for, no chance. But well done let's go USA

[@jammielettgolf5154]

So the 6 birdies he made leading up to that point had no pressure on them either ? You think he started the day knowing he had no chance? , Again he shot the lowest score of athe day amongst the leaders (69) he beat them all. He has said many times he wanted to make that putt because he wanted that top 4 finish. Wish everyone would give him credit , he won the fucking British open! LoL Tiger , Vijah, Davis , they all had their shot and Ben curtis beat them , period

[@richlewis1879]

A super young Freddy Jacobsen

[@Mitjitsu]

Always felt bad for Bjorn. It should have been his that year.

[@richlewis1879]

To this day when Tom Watson lost to Stewart cink, to me that's the most heartbreaking

[@thenumberquelve158]

5:08 I found the Packers Fan.

[@richlewis1879]

How does a professional in the biggest tournament on the planet, not switch cards with his playing partner. Both of them

[@jadesmith6823]

What's Ben doing today?

[@moody_blue682]

He retired from competitive golf in 2017 after 15 years playing on the tour and now runs his golf academy in Ohio.

[@richlewis1879]

As we all know, Tiger never came back to win a major through his first 14

[@richlewis1879]

I totally feel parnavik deserved an open

[@skellvarnsen23]

rad

[@jansenkalyanotan7113]

Damon west

[@cliffy7641]

Think he would have won by 5 with a proper rat !

[@mofojohnson1]

Bjorn was robbed

[@TomasNolanmossynolanmusic]

You don’t get robbed in golf

[@DanielSong39]

@Ian Armstrong Um I think you missed the part where Ben Curtis had a 2 stroke lead with 7 holes remaining and absolutely gagged coming home

[@bicklesby1]

@@DanielSong39 and you missed the trophy present

[@DanielSong39]

@@bicklesby1 Well you can't make bogeys when you're done

[@Dreama40]

No he wasn't he just buckled under the pressure, that's golf. All credit to Ben Curtis he WAS the last man standing and rightfully deserves his name on that magnificent trophy.

[@jamesthain980]

These have all been available for years, no one cares. Stop being lazy, release the full final rounds like the other majors.

[@golfranda]

Hey James, we're releasing full final rounds on a Wednesday, if you want to catch up, check out our latest upload which is the 2011 Final Round

[@Mitjitsu]

Patience my friend.

[@rodsmith8118]

You cared enough to comment, genius.