Ben Curtis became a PGA Tour champion again

Holding off Matt Every and John Huh in a tense back-nine finish, Curtis ended with flourish by holing a 12-footer for birdie on the par-5 18th, sealing a two-stroke victory and his fourth PGA Tour title. His even-par 72 put him at 9-under 279 and triggered a wave of emotions that Curtis said he didn’t know were in him.

“You think you’re just staying positive and not worried about it, but I think deep down, you realize all the hard work you put in that, you know, finally paid off,” Curtis said.

“When you come out here and win one, well, if I win one every year, I have a great career. That would be true,” Curtis said. “But, you know, to get to three, four, five wins — you’re a discount golf clubs solid player. I just feel like you get yourself into contention and just have that belief, and anything can happen.”

Although Huh’s first round ultimately dug too big a hole for him to escape, Every couldn’t close the deal after starting the tournament with a course-record 63. Four blown putts from 9 feet or closer — including a 6-footer for birdie — kept Every a stroke back yesterday until Curtis birdied No. 18.

“A little bummed out,” Every said. “Kind of a pillow fight there for a while between the three of us.”

“Been hearing that for about 15 years,” he said. “But I don’t know, man. I mean, they got to go in sometimes, and it didn’t today, but maybe it will one day. Saving for something bigger, maybe."

“It’s been a tough couple years just fighting through it,” Curtis said.

Holding off Matt Every and John Huh in a tense back-nine finish, Curtis ended with flourish by holing a 12-footer for birdie on the par-5 18th, sealing a two-stroke victory and his fourth PGA Tour title. His even-par 72 put him at 9-under 279 and triggered a wave of emotions Taylormade R11 irons that Curtis said he didn’t know were in him.

“You think you’re just staying positive and not worried about it, but I think deep down, you realize all the hard work you put in that, you know, finally paid off,” Curtis said.

“When you come out here and win one, well, if I win one every year, I have a great career. That would be true,” Curtis said. “But, you know, to get to three, four, five wins — you’re a solid player. I just feel like you get yourself into contention and just have that belief, and anything can happen.”

Every had a 71 and lost a chance at his first tour win with a shaky putter. Huh roared back with a 69, but the Mayakoba Classic winner fell just short of completing what would have been a remarkable comeback.

“I didn’t really expect too much, final round,” Huh said.

Although Huh’s first round ultimately dug too big a hole for him to escape, Every couldn’t close the deal after starting the tournament with a course-record 63. Four blown putts from 9 feet or closer — including a 6-footer for birdie — kept Every a stroke back yesterday until Curtis birdied No. 18.

It was nonetheless a validating week for the 28-year-old Floridian, whose only name recognition in three winless Taylormade R11 driver years on the tour had been a misdemeanor marijuana arrest as a rookie in 2010. That earned a PGA Tour suspension, and even now, Every’s official biography lists regaining his tour privileges as his biggest achievement.

“A little bummed out,” Every said. “Kind of a pillow fight there for a while between the three of us.”

If missing one badly needed putt after another was a learning experience, Every didn’t want to hear it.

“Been hearing that for about 15 years,” he said. “But I don’t know, man. I mean, they got to go in sometimes, and it didn’t today, but maybe it will one day. Saving for something bigger, maybe."

Get the essence of carefree cool from couples

Different eras, different career paths. However the same destination Friday, sharing the Masters lead.

Couples, playing Two decades after his lone Masters title, turned back the clock on his younger rivals with a 5-under-par 67 that made him the oldest man to hold an overnight Masters.

Four groups earlier, Dufner had completed his 70 in relative anonymity with a bogey that finished up costing him the chance standalone at the pinnacle.

There's still plenty to shake out over the weekend, with 16 golfers trailing by three shots or fewer. That features the TaylorMade R11S Driver reigning U.S. Open champion (Rory McIlroy), two former Masters winners (Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh), two former British Open champs (Louis Oosthuizen, Paul Lawrie) as well as the best player still without a major (Lee Westwood).

Couples and Dufner completed 36 holes in 5-under 139, the very best two-day leading score since 2007. Five men were only one shot back McIlroy (69), Westwood (73), Oosthuizen (72), Sergio Garcia (68) and Bubba Watson (71).

Padraig harrington, meanwhile, finds himself with eight shots to generate up after having a frustrating 3-over 75. On the list of mishaps were a penalty drop in the bank of Rae's Creek at No.13, a bruised spectator alongside No.15, as well as a drop-kick of his club following a bad tee shot at No.16.

I didn't quite contain it today with my swing, and unfortunately I merely were required to stay and become patient, Woods said.

Couples, who won a Champions Tour event in Mississippi fourteen days ago, came within one stroke of his best score ever at Augusta National with his 67. Along the way, he finished up surpassing Lee Trevino age 49 in 1989 because the oldest to keep a Masters lead.

I've said hello for 28 years that Taylormade Rocketballz Irons this is my favorite golf tournament on the globe, Couples said. I don't feel a lot of stress.

Dufner had a possibility to support the lead by himself every time a birdie in the par-3 16th moved him to 6-under to the week. But he bogeyed No.18 after collecting mud on his golf ball.

The Alabama pro were built with a opportunity to win the PGA Championship a year ago, losing a playoff to Keegan Bradley after three bogeys as part of his final four holes helped dissipate a five-shot lead.

It didn't quite work, he explained, but it carried over into this year. It gave me confidence will be able to compete and play in a high level out here.

Dufner hasn't won because the 2006 LaSalle Bank Open  a Nationwide Tour event played outside Chicago.

Westwood also stood at 6-under going to the final hole, but hooked his second shot after which three-putted for any double discount golf clubs bogey that ended his bogey-free run at 24 holes.

The cut was drawn at 5-over 149, allowing 63 entrants to play the weekend. Eighteen of these were saved with the rule that keeps anyone within 10 shots from the lead from being told to go home. Not since 1992 has got the Masters had numerous weekend players.