Curtis remains in the dark

Great champions are expected to walk with a swagger, talk with authority and generally conduct themselves as though they are living a dream.

Ben Curtis is a champion, his name newly engraved upon the base of golf 's Claret Jug.

But the concept of greatness remains as much a stranger to the American as he was a stranger to the galleries at Royal St George's when, four weeks ago, he began his challenge for The Open title as a 500-1 outsider ranked 396th in the world.

Having gone on to score one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game, Curtis received an invitation to meet the President of the United States, make an appearance on America's most famous television talk show, and earned the financial rewards to turn his forthcoming wedding into every bride's idea of heaven. It should have given Curtis enough thrills to last a lifetime.

Yet, on the eve of the USPGA Championship here at the Oak Hill Country Club, 26-year-old Curtis remains desperately unaffected by the commotion he has caused.

Indeed, five minutes in Curtis's company revealed his character to be almost as dull as the grey polo shirt he was wearing. He confessed that his White House audience with President Bush was "pretty cool".

How about the honour of being introduced everywhere he goes now as "Ben Curtis, Open Champion"? Again, he replied: "It's pretty cool."

Curtis is clearly uncomfortable when caught in the full glare of the media spotlight. Words don't come easy to him, as was proved when he was a guest of chat show host David Letterman.