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After near miss at PGA, 2003 British Open champ praises Anderson's putting
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008
BEREA: Before Ben Curtis played 36 holes Sunday in the final two rounds of the PGA Championship, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson fired off a message that was practically prophetic.
''I sent him a text the other night, 'Why don't you just bring that trophy right out to Berea?' '' Anderson said.
The coveted Wanamaker Trophy went to Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who claimed his second consecutive major. Curtis, the 2003 British Open champion from Kent State, shot 68-71 and finished 2 strokes back, tying for second at gruelling Oakland Hills.
Curtis and his family didn't pull into their driveway in Stow until about 1:30 a.m. Monday after the drive from suburban Detroit. Thirty-two hours later, they arrived at Browns camp to watch Ben's favorite team and visit his friend, Anderson.
Candace Curtis had their son Liam, who turns 2 in September, and daughter Addison, 8 months, in a double stroller that is a Browns model.
''I bought it in Cleveland and thought, 'Is it too obnoxious?' '' she said. ''Then I realized it's Browns colors.''
They were accompanied Tuesday morning by Ben's brother, Nick, former agent Peter Malik and financial adviser Tom Bertsch. Curtis is taking the week off before playing in the first FedExCup playoff event, the Barclays, at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. That's not far from the Meadowlands, where the Browns take on the New York Giants on Monday night.
On this training-camp visit, Curtis did not attempt a field goal as he did two years ago. That's when he met Anderson, then the third-string quarterback and now the Browns' starter.
They had dinner in Phoenix this winter when Curtis was competing in the FBR Open and Anderson was in town for the Super Bowl. They started texting after Anderson played in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, and that led to a couple of rounds together, one at Sand Ridge near Chardon and another at Firestone Country Club.
''We played at Firestone South; they're in the rough, and these guys beat it out of there,'' Anderson said. ''I'm in there, and I might as well take a sand wedge.''
But after watching Anderson shoot 78 from the tips at Sand Ridge, Curtis respects Anderson's game.
''He's actually a pretty good putter,'' Curtis said of the 6-foot-6 Anderson. ''It's surprising for a guy his size. He must be able to have some touch because he can throw a football all different ways. He hits it pretty good, he's athletic, good hand-eye coordination. I think his putting is his biggest strength.''
Told what Curtis said, Anderson replied: ''Yeah, because I hit it all over the map. That's the only way I can score.''
Anderson was frustrated Sunday because the Browns were practicing when Curtis, the 54-hole leader, was on the back nine at the PGA. But he was proud of Curtis, now 25th on the PGA Tour money list with winnings of $1.866 million.
''He was in contention; that was pretty cool,'' Anderson said.
Curtis, 31, became one of 11 men to finish in the top 10 in two majors this year. In his career, he has three victories and 11 top 10s, four in majors, including a tie for seventh in the 2008 British Open.
This one brought another prize. Curtis jumped from 20th to seventh in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, earning a spot on the team for the Sept. 19-21 competition versus Europe at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
''That was the least of my worries. I knew I had to pretty much be in the top three to get in,'' Curtis said.
After the PGA, Curtis drew kudos from Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger and analysts on the Golf Channel.
''I've always known I could play at this level,'' Curtis said. ''To do it on that stage was awfully fulfilling career-wise.''
His finish qualified him for the 2009 Masters Tournament and PGA. His five-year exemption from winning the British Open ended this year.
With the FedExCup playoffs and the Ryder Cup ahead, Curtis and Anderson won't hit the links together for a while. Anderson is still ribbing Curtis for not giving him and Malik strokes when they played this summer.
''Peter and I played our best ball versus his best ball, and we lost,'' Anderson said. ''We got a par, he got a birdie.''
Asked if the Champions Tour could be a possibility for Anderson when he turns 50, Curtis said: ''You never know with these athletes. They can put their mind to anything. He's going to retire after playing football 12 or 13 years. I think he'll be fine; he'll play for fun.''
As for professional golf, Anderson said: ''A lot of it is picking it up when you're a kid. I was 6, but I never had a lesson until last year. I was out there gripping it and ripping it.''
So having a friend on the PGA Tour hasn't helped Anderson's swing?
''I'm kind of stiff; I'm not going to lie,'' Anderson said. ''I'm working on it.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Before Ben Curtis played 36 holes Sunday in the final two rounds of the PGA Championship, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson fired off a message that was practically prophetic.
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