Ben Curtis | 2003 British Open Champion (replay)

This week is the Open Championship, which means it's the last golf major of the PGA season. It also marks the 20th anniversary of Ben Curtis winning the Open Championship as a 300-to-1 long shot. When Ben Curtis hoisted the Claret Jug, it was the first time he had ever played in a major and it was his first-ever tournament at a links-style course. He also was a late add to the field and his wife barely made it over to England since she didn’t have a passport.

This was an interesting episode we did a couple of years ago but wanted to replay it since this is the week of The Open Championship. 

Lastly, I must admit I'm biased when it comes to Ben Curtis since he is a fellow Kent State Golden Flash alum. He is also doing a lot of great things in our area for kids in need. I highly recommend checking out his website at bencurtisfoundation.org. 

 

SHOW NOTES:

Ben Curtis won the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s as a rookie in only his 16th start on the PGA Tour. He became the first golfer in 90 years to win a major championship on his first try. He would go on to win a total of four PGA events. Curtis also was the runnerup at the 2012 PLAYERS Championship and a member of the 2008 Ryder Cup Championship Team. Prior to his professional career, he was formerly the world’s number one ranked amateur after winning three Ohio Amateur titles, earning NCAA All-American honors three times at Kent State University, and reaching the semifinals of the 1999 of prestigious U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach. He retired from professional golf in 2017.  He now leads the Ben Curtis Golf Academy, as well as the Ben Curtis Family Foundation which seeks to alleviate childhood hunger in Northeast Ohio.

In today’s episode, we discuss: Winning The Open Championship as a rookie Getting married and playing a PGA event on the same day The mental approach to golf Starting a foundation to help alleviate child hunger … and so much more!!!   Resources, Books, and Links 

Golf Academy Website: BenCurtisGolfAcademy.com

Foundation Website:   BenCurtisFoundation.org

Foundation Facebook:  Facebook.com/BenCurtisFoundation/

Instagram: @BenCurtisFamilyFoundation

Articles of Interest . . .

Golf has a new place in Ben Curtis’ life My First Open (first person article) 10 things to know about Ben Curtis’ 2003 British Open win Caddie recalls Ben Curtis Open Championship Win Grandfather’s Course was Curtis’ School

Past “Success is a Choice” podcast episodes of interest . . .

Jon Steinbrecher (MAC commissioner) – Episode 124 Phil Hellmuth (15x World Series of Poker Champion) – Episode 108 Tim Dimoff (Leading expert on security & risk) – Episode 101 Drew Dinkmeyer – (“Welly” maker founder & Fantasy Sports Champion) – Episode 085 Brittany Horschel (wife of 2014 FedEx Golf Champion) – Episode 084 Paul Tesori (caddie for PGA golfer Webb Simpson) – Episode 080 Keith Lipscomb (ESPN.com Fantasy Football Sr. Editor) – Episode 026 Larry DeSimpelare (Crossroads League commissioner) – Episode 016 Dwane Casey (2018 NBA Coach of the Year) – Episode 001

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Each week, the SUCCESS IS A CHOICE podcasting network brings you leadership expert Jamy Bechler and guest experts who provide valuable insights, tips, and guidance on how to maximize your potential, build a stronger culture, develop good leadership, create a healthy vision, optimize results, and inspire those around you.

The Success is a Choice podcast network is made possible by TheLeadershipPlaybook.com. Great teams have great teammates and everyone can be a person of influence. Whether you're a coach, athletic director, or athlete, you can benefit from this program and now you can get 25% off the price when you use the coupon code CHOICE at checkout. Build a stronger culture today with better teammates and more positive leaders. 

- - - -

Jamy Bechler is the author of five books including The Captain and The Bus Trip, host of the Success is a Choice Podcast, professional speaker, and trains organizations on creating championship cultures. He previously spent 20 years as a college basketball coach and administrator.  The Leadership Playbook is Bechler’s online program that helps athletes become better teammates and more positive leaders while strengthening a team’s culture. As a certified John Maxwell leadership coach, Bechler has worked with businesses and teams, including the NBA. Follow him on Twitter at @CoachBechler. To connect with him via email or find out about his services, please contact [email protected]. You can also subscribe to his insights on success and leadership by clicking here.

This week is the Open Championship, which means it's the last golf major of the PGA season. It also marks the 20th anniversary of Ben Curtis winning the Open Championship as a 300-to-1 long shot. When Ben Curtis hoisted the Claret Jug, it was the first time he had ever played in a major and it was his first-ever tournament at a links-style course. He also was a late add to the field and his wife barely made it over to England since she didn’t have a passport.

This was an interesting episode we did a couple of years ago but wanted to replay it since this is the week of The Open Championship. 

Lastly, I must admit I'm biased when it comes to Ben Curtis since he is a fellow Kent State Golden Flash alum. He is also doing a lot of great things in our area for kids in need. I highly recommend checking out his website at bencurtisfoundation.org. 

 

SHOW NOTES:

Ben Curtis won the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s as a rookie in only his 16th start on the PGA Tour. He became the first golfer in 90 years to win a major championship on his first try. He would go on to win a total of four PGA events. Curtis also was the runnerup at the 2012 PLAYERS Championship and a member of the 2008 Ryder Cup Championship Team. Prior to his professional career, he was formerly the world’s number one ranked amateur after winning three Ohio Amateur titles, earning NCAA All-American honors three times at Kent State University, and reaching the semifinals of the 1999 of prestigious U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach. He retired from professional golf in 2017.  He now leads the Ben Curtis Golf Academy, as well as the Ben Curtis Family Foundation which seeks to alleviate childhood hunger in Northeast Ohio.

In today’s episode, we discuss: Winning The Open Championship as a rookie Getting married and playing a PGA event on the same day The mental approach to golf Starting a foundation to help alleviate child hunger … and so much more!!!   Resources, Books, and Links 

Golf Academy Website: BenCurtisGolfAcademy.com

Foundation Website:   BenCurtisFoundation.org

Foundation Facebook:  Facebook.com/BenCurtisFoundation/

Instagram: @BenCurtisFamilyFoundation

Articles of Interest . . .

Golf has a new place in Ben Curtis’ life My First Open (first person article) 10 things to know about Ben Curtis’ 2003 British Open win Caddie recalls Ben Curtis Open Championship Win Grandfather’s Course was Curtis’ School

Past “Success is a Choice” podcast episodes of interest . . .

Jon Steinbrecher (MAC commissioner) – Episode 124 Phil Hellmuth (15x World Series of Poker Champion) – Episode 108 Tim Dimoff (Leading expert on security & risk) – Episode 101 Drew Dinkmeyer – (“Welly” maker founder & Fantasy Sports Champion) – Episode 085 Brittany Horschel (wife of 2014 FedEx Golf Champion) – Episode 084 Paul Tesori (caddie for PGA golfer Webb Simpson) – Episode 080 Keith Lipscomb (ESPN.com Fantasy Football Sr. Editor) – Episode 026 Larry DeSimpelare (Crossroads League commissioner) – Episode 016 Dwane Casey (2018 NBA Coach of the Year) – Episode 001

- - - -

Each week, the SUCCESS IS A CHOICE podcasting network brings you leadership expert Jamy Bechler and guest experts who provide valuable insights, tips, and guidance on how to maximize your potential, build a stronger culture, develop good leadership, create a healthy vision, optimize results, and inspire those around you.

The Success is a Choice podcast network is made possible by TheLeadershipPlaybook.com. Great teams have great teammates and everyone can be a person of influence. Whether you're a coach, athletic director, or athlete, you can benefit from this program and now you can get 25% off the price when you use the coupon code CHOICE at checkout. Build a stronger culture today with better teammates and more positive leaders. 

- - - -

Jamy Bechler is the author of five books including The Captain and The Bus Trip, host of the Success is a Choice Podcast, professional speaker, and trains organizations on creating championship cultures. He previously spent 20 years as a college basketball coach and administrator.  The Leadership Playbook is Bechler’s online program that helps athletes become better teammates and more positive leaders while strengthening a team’s culture. As a certified John Maxwell leadership coach, Bechler has worked with businesses and teams, including the NBA. Follow him on Twitter at @CoachBechler. To connect with him via email or find out about his services, please contact [email protected]. You can also subscribe to his insights on success and leadership by clicking here.