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."