Akron, Ohio ? British Open champion Ben Curtis has a chance to make history again, this time as the only guy to start a golf tournament as a bachelor and win it as a husband.

Two days away from his wedding, Curtis took his mind off matrimony long enough Thursday to post his best score on the PGA Tour, a 6-under 64 that gave him a share of the lead with Sergio Garcia in the NEC Invitational.

Tiger Woods, who has won the last three times at Firestone, shot a 65 and was impressed that Curtis was able to play this well with so many distractions around him.

“Let’s just say if he’s in contention, I want to see how tired he is on Sunday morning,” Woods said with a laugh.

The wedding originally was scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday in the suburb of Stow, about a 30-minute drive from Firestone.

Of course, the invitations were mailed before Curtis, a 500-1 long shot, won the British Open and became the first player in 90 years to win a major championship in his first try.

He figured he still could play and make it to the chapel on time. He never counted on leading a World Golf Championship the week of his wedding.

Curtis hit a 9-iron just inches from the cup on No. 18 for a tap-in birdie, and saw his fiancee, Candace Beatty, and several members of the wedding party behind the green.

British Open champion Ben Curtis, right, checks his yardage on the 16th fairway with caddie Danny Sahl. Curtis shot 6-under-par 64 Thursday in the first round of the NEC Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

“She was smiling and cheering away,” Curtis said. “I think she’s going to say, ‘Well, the rehearsal dinner (Friday night) might be pushed back a little bit,’ but I think she’ll be happy.”

Garcia also missed the cut at Oak Hill last week, although his game slowly has been turning around. He birdied four straight holes in the middle of his round, the last three from inside two feet, until he was slowed by a bogey on the par-3 12th.

He finished his 64 with a 15-foot birdie on the final hole.

Because the NEC Invitational adjusts the pairings after each round, Garcia and Curtis will be in the final group today.

Garcia, chatty as ever, is sure to bring up the big day.

“I’ll tell you what, if he’s doing well, Saturday night is going to be a big night,” Garcia said. “Because a wedding … what do you do? Do you get drunk or you don’t? A lot of decisions are going to be made that night.”

Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland joined Woods at 65, while the group at 66 included David Toms, Davis Love III, Chris Riley and Scott Verplank.