Unlikely source lends inspiration

Curtis' victory in British Open has more golfers thinking they can win PGA Championship

? Optimism at the PGA Championship has never been so high for so many players, and not just because Tiger Woods has gone five majors without winning one.

It comes from Ben Curtis winning the first major he ever played.

“The inspiration is … you know what? Anyone can win any week out here,” Steve Flesch said Wednesday. “That’s what you have to keep in mind.”

It shouldn’t be hard to remember.

Only a month ago at the British Open, a 26-year-old rookie unknown by most of his peers captured the oldest championship in golf by beating the best players in the world. Curtis became the first player in 90 years to win a major in his first try.

Who’s next?

Maybe it will be Chris Riley, who learned his lessons from Royal St. George’s.

Riley finished third in the PGA Championship last year, and won his first PGA Tour event a week later.

But in the first round of the British Open, a 7-over 78 made him wonder if he was fooling himself.

“I was like, ‘Look at the names who win this tournament — Ernie Els, Tiger Woods.’ Did I really have a chance coming over here?” Riley said.

“Usually, the big names win the major championships. To watch Ben Curtis win … I’ll never take that attitude again.

“It obviously gives guys like myself a lot of confidence.”

That means the PGA Championship, which starts today at Oak Hill Country Club, could be more wide-open than ever.

The fourth major of the year is famous for its surprises — John Daly in 1991 at Crooked Stick as the ninth alternate; Jeff Sluman at Oak Tree in 1988 for his first PGA Tour victory; even Rich Beem last year at Hazeltine, although he had won his previous start.

Twelve of the last 15 winners at the PGA Championship had never won a major.

Who’s next?

Maybe it will be Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie, the best two players to have never won a major.

“Mike Weir and Jim Furyk were up there with those people that were some of the best players in the world not to win a major championship, and they both got that off their backs now,” Thomas Bjorn said. “Players like Mickelson and Monty, that must give them a lot of feeling that they can go in here and have a chance.”