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Clearly the author did not pay attention to Mr. Curtis's outstanding shot making on the first 12 holes of the fourth round. Ben hit a series of low drawing approach shots with near perfect shape, trajectory and distance. What may have appeared to be lucky bounces to an individual who knows little or nothing about golf were nothing of the sort. The shots were perfectly conceived and executed. Moreover, his putter was true under the most pressure filled conditions imagineable.

Although Ben's play deteriorated down the stretch, he held his composure and navigated the final holes without making a major mistake. And, of course, the putt on the 18th green was a marvel of strenght and fortitude. Good show all around.

Ben's victory may have been a fluke. Only time will tell if he is a true champion or just another Rich Beem. But, take nothing away from his performance at Royal St. George's. Ben was not in the least lucky last week. We the viewers were the lucky ones, having been given the opportunity to watch something truly remarkable: the emergence of the Francis Ouimet of the Twenty-first Century.