[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 108 (Monday, July 21, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SALUTING BEN CURTIS, BRITISH OPEN CHAMPION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PATRICK J. TIBERI

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 21, 2003

  Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, up until yesterday, when golf fans spoke of 
``Ben,'' they probably meant Ben Hogan, one of the game's legends. But 
today another ``Ben'' stands atop the world of golf--Ben Curtis, the 
2003 champion of the British Open.
  Ben is a 26-year-old rookie on the PGA Tour who learned the game at 
the Mill Creek Golf Club, built by his late grandfather northwest of 
Columbus in Ostrander, Ohio, which his family still operates. 
Obviously, he learned well.
  Ben, who has yet to win on the PGA tour, entered the British Open, in 
his words, ``just trying to play the best I could.'' His best turned 
out to be good enough to beat some of golf's best, including Davis Love 
III, Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods. His one-under-par, 283-stroke total 
for the four-day tournament made him the first player since Francis 
Ouimet at the 1913 U.S. Open to win a major championship on his first 
try.
  I had the opportunity to become acquainted with Ben's grandparents, 
Bill and Myrtie Black. Bill, who died this past February, taught Ben 
the game. Ben's father is the golf course superintendent at Mill Creek. 
Family and friends were on hand at the clubhouse yesterday to watch Ben 
play on television. His victory was one that anyone from small town 
America, or who grew up with parents that instilled values and work 
ethic, can appreciate.
  An impossible dream? For Ben Curtis, obviously not. Instead, his 
improbable British Open victory was a dream come true. I join with 
Ben's family and friends and the entire golfing world in saluting his 
outstanding accomplishment. It definitely will not be his last.

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