GOLF Fleck: Curtis' win in British Open similar to my victory over Hogan

By BOB HARIG
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
Jack Fleck turned on the BBC telecast of the British Open at his room in Scotland, where he was preparing for the British Senior Open, and noticed names he recognized and one he didn't.
There were Tiger Woods and Davis Love and Vijay Singh competing in the final round of the British Open at Royal St. George's in England. And then there was this guy named Ben Curtis. Who was he?
A short time later, Curtis holed a dramatic par putt on the 18th green, the other challengers faltered around him, and one of the biggest upset winners in golf history was holding the Claret Jug.
"I thought, 'Hey, that's similar to my situation,"' Fleck said.
Fleck is remembered most for his 1955 U.S. Open victory at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, where he tied the legendary Ben Hogan in regulation, then beat him in an 18-hole playoff.
Fleck, then 33, was the pro at two municipal courses in Davenport, Iowa, and had to qualify for the Open.
With Hogan, considered a sure winner, sitting in the clubhouse being congratulated by some, Fleck was still on the course. He played the last four holes in 2 under par, including a 7-foot birdie putt at the 18th, to shoot 67 and force a playoff.
If that wasn't enough pressure, playing alongside Hogan the next day would surely fell Fleck.
Instead, Fleck shot 69 to defeat Hogan by three strokes.
Fleck is bothered that some consider his victory a fluke. He never won another major championship, but he did win two more titles, at Phoenix in 1960 and Bakersfield, Calif. in 1961.
"I wasn't as bad a player as it was made out to be because I didn't win a lot," he said. "I was very disappointed that I didn't win more. "
"I just couldn't put it all together again. But winning one Open is better than never winning one."