POTOMAC, Maryland (AP):
IN A sloppy finish to a sweet victory, Ben Curtis made two harmless bogeys yesterday morning for a one-under 70 to complete a five-shot victory in the rain-delayed Booz Allen Classic.
It was the first Tuesday finish on the PGA Tour in 26 years, but it was worth the wait for Curtis.
He won for the first time since he captured the 2003 British Open at Royal St. George's, one of the biggest upsets in golf history, and found validation on the TPC at Avenel with a wire-to-wire victory stretched over six days.
Curtis had a seven-shot lead and was on the 17th hole facing a 28-foot par putt when play was suspended on Monday evening because of heavy rain. He returned yesterday morning to make bogey, then finished with another bogey on the 18th - in front of about 40 people - to wind up at 20-under 264, one short of the tournament record.
He finished five shots ahead of Billy Andrade (64), Padraig Harrington (66), Nick O'Hern (67) and Steve Stricker (68).
