Remember all those sun-splashed Sundays when thousands were packed shoulder-to-shoulder on hills surrounding the 18th hole at the TPC at Avenel or the signature 17th at Congressional Country Club.
Remember Rich Beem, Mark Weibe, Greg Norman, Fred Couples and Sergio Garcia?
Tuesday morning at Avenel when former British Open champion Ben Curtis putted out on the 18th hole to capture the rain-marred 2006 Booz AllenClassic, there were approximately 40 witnesses to his bogey.
“Royal St. George’s, there was probably 100,000 people around the 18th hole,” said Curtis of his 2003 British Open victory. “[This] was a huge difference. It was just amazing that we got this done.”
Other than officials and media, the only spectators allowed on the saturated course were friends and family of the players. There also were a handful of PGA pros there, who were set to play at nearby Congressional Country Club in a British Open qualifier that was cancelled due to the severe weather than dumped more than nine inches of rain on the Washington area the last three days.
It was a fitting close to an event that rescheduled its start 12 times the last four days and had three storm interruptions. It was the seventh straight year the tournament was halted by weather and the third time in six years it failed to end on Sunday.
When Curtis finished up Tuesday at 8:39 a.m., he and playing partners Steve Stricker and Brett Quigley bowed to volunteers and officials who were seated in a corporate tent.
“They did a wonderful job of getting the course ready,” said Curtis. “They’ve worked harder than we have getting this tournament done.”
Despite bogeys on the final two holes Tuesday, Curtis finished 20-under par, five strokes clear of Stricker, Billy Andrade, Padraig Harrington and Nick O’Hern. In claiming a $900,000 check, Curtis (62-65-67-70 – 264) became the first player in 21 years to lead the tournament after all four rounds.
“It was just a big relief to get it done and finally get this win,” said Curtis, 29, of his second career victory. “I’ve been waiting three years for it and it finally came.”
