How Ben's Unexpected Journey To The Open Became The Beginning Of Something Even Greater
It’s January 2003, and Ben has just secured his PGA Tour card. We are trying to make his schedule for the first few months, but as a 25-year-old rookie, it’s very hard to do. Your spot is secured by how high you rank amongst players, and Ben was the low man on the totem pole. I had just finished school and was still working at an insurance company. I also had my real estate license. I was turning 23, and we were getting married in a month, so we needed a backup plan. Ben practiced as much as he could so that he would be ready if his number came up. The pressure you feel to earn enough money to keep your card is very real, and if you can’t get into events, how are you going to make money?
Then a break came and he got into his first event, the AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. Ben went out early, and his dad, Bob, and I flew out there on Tuesday to watch his debut. We wanted to be there to support him, and there aren’t many places more beautiful than Carmel, CA. It was a surreal experience to be around Tour players I had only seen on TV, along with all of the celebrities who also played. They had family dining with a full buffet for breakfast and lunch, with someone there making cappuccinos—nothing like we had ever experienced before. We had such a fun week, and although Ben missed the cut, we knew there were a lot of events left that season to make up some ground.
Fast forward a few months, and Ben was still struggling to get into events. Then came an invite to the Western Open in Chicago, and little did we know that was the starting point for the biggest change in our lives. He finished 13th, and the tournament rewarded players who weren’t already qualified for The Open with a spot—Ben was one of them. Kent, England, here we come.
There was so much planning in the next few days. First hurdle: I didn’t have a passport. So Ben and I, just two kids from little Kent, Ohio, headed into downtown Chicago and into a small, tucked-away office in someone’s basement to sort out my paperwork. I remember us laughing because we felt better knowing our family was aware of our whereabouts. We also had to find last-minute accommodations. Ben’s manager helped us, and we stayed out in the country at Danbridge Oast, in a quaint little cottage. Our bed was in the living room, and the washer and dryer were one unit, which we didn’t even attempt to figure out. The owners were so friendly and helpful that we felt right at home the minute we arrived. It was perfect!
And a caddy—who could we find in the UK to work for a rookie American? They found Andy Sutton who, when he hung up the phone, thought to himself, Ben who?
We got there the Saturday before The Open, and I went out and caddied for Ben in his practice round. I remember running ahead to figure out where he should be hitting. The course was so expansive and not very defined because of its links style. I remember thinking, I am way out of my league here as a caddy. He definitely needed someone who knew what they were doing.
We had planned a trip into London for Monday because who knew if we’d ever go back. This is very unheard of during a major tournament, but for us, it was one of our first “vacations” together, and we weren’t going to come all this way and not see Big Ben or the Tower of London. It was a long train ride from Kent, England—maybe an hour or just over—but definitely worth the trip. Ben met his caddy, Andy, on Sunday, and he was a great fit for Ben right off the bat. His British humor was right up Ben’s alley: lighthearted, dry, and perfect for the week ahead. Andy remembers saying to Ben on the tee Sunday evening, “If we’re standing on this tee box at the same time next Sunday, we’ve had a great week.” Little did he know what was coming.
Ben really enjoyed links golf, and it seemed all the stars were aligned that week. He played solid golf the first three days. On the last day, he was in the third-to-last group, and as he climbed the leaderboard, the crowds started to grow. I was trying to watch, but the crowd was five deep. Finally, one of the marshals gave me an armband so I could walk inside the ropes.
That last putt on 18 is one I will never forget. We thought it was going to allow him to keep his card—we had no idea what was happening in the group behind us. Ben went in to sign his card, and there he learned what had happened. He went out to the range to keep warm in case there was a playoff. The range was quiet. It was just Ben and Andy out there, while the crowd was over at the 18th green watching his victory unfold. Andy kept slipping into the scorer’s tent, and finally, he came out grinning and held up a hand—Ben was the 2003 Open Champion. Little did we know our lives were about to change forever.
That evening we went back to the house and ordered a lot of pizza with every topping you could imagine. Andy and his friend joined us, and we drank champagne out of the oldest trophy in the history of golf—the Claret Jug. It was before cell phones really worked overseas (at least on our limited plan), so we had a quick call from the landline with our family. Then Ben, Andy, and I, along with a few others, celebrated all night long.
The next morning we arrived at the airport (with our Claret Jug carry-on), and after we got through security, we headed to the store to get waters and snacks for the long flight. We went to check out, and I remember looking at the newspaper rack—Ben’s face was on almost all of them with the story of his unbelievable win. Overnight, he had become a household name and a part of history, and now we were sure he’d have a job for the next five years.
We flew into Cleveland the next day, and there was a huge celebration and press conference in baggage claim. Flash, the Kent State mascot, was there along with so many family and friends. And funny enough, years later we still meet people who tell us they came to the airport to see Ben come home. We really wanted to see our families and have a moment with them before the chaos, so the airport was kind enough to let us use a room to celebrate with our immediate family and show them the Claret Jug before heading downstairs. It was so touching to see how many people cared about Ben and me and his success in golf. We are truly lucky to live in a place filled with so many caring individuals.
This week every year holds such a special place in my heart because it truly was life-changing—and it was something we got to experience together at just 23 and 26 years old. His success in golf has allowed us to do so many things, but by far the most meaningful has been starting the Ben Curtis Family Foundation. We are so grateful to meet so many wonderful people who help us make a difference in our community and the lives of so many children. I didn’t know it then, but 22 years later, I know that week taught us how quickly life can change—and how important it is to use those moments to give back.
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