Find Me A 100 Winner: Ben Curtis

Find Me A 100 Winner / Paul Krishnamurty / 28 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

Paul Krishnamurty believes that a straight driver with a classy short game might be the man to bring in a big price this week...

In the seven years since producing arguably the biggest upset in history to win the Open as a complete unknown, Ben Curtis has gradually justified his major winner status. Unlike the other two miracle major champions this century, Rich Beem and Shaun Micheel, Curtis has added two further PGA titles to his portfolio. To win three times at that level cannot be written off as a fluke; you have to be a serious player.

Like most other players of his standard though, much depends on the nature of the course. A straight driver with a classy short game, Curtis always seems to reserve his best for tough golf courses. For instance, consider his best four results in 2008. Runner-up in both the USPGA at Oakland Hills and at this week's venue, Quail Hollow. 4th in the Barclays at Westchester, 7th in the Open at Birkdale. Four very tough golf courses either hosting majors, or that wouldn't look out of place hosting one.

Considering this liking for tough layouts, Curtis rates an excellent value trade at [120.00] to return to his best this week at the Quail Hollow Championship. Curtis is trading up at these heights because he's yet to produce his best in 2009. But a look through recent venues reveal a list of courses where he'd never previously prospered, so perhaps we shouldn't read too much into that recent form. Given his characteristics, it was no great surprise to see him go close last year at Quail Hollow; a course that is a major venue in all but name, and where the single most important attribute is a world-class short game.