![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/i-shocked-the-world-to-win-the-open-ahead-of-tiger-woods-at-odds-of-500-1-now-im-a-high-school-teacher/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/crop-23132762.jpg&description=TEE to teaching I shocked the world to win The Open ahead of Tiger Woods at odds of 500/1… now I'm a high school teacher BEN CURTIS stunned the world by winning The Open in 2003 while ranked 396th in the world. The American went into the event, his Major debut, as a huge outsider at 500/1. 4 Ben Curtis got his hands on the Claret Jug in 2003 Credit: PA 4 The American produced a stunning performance to win on his Major debut Credit: AFP In a field including greats like Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo - Curtis wasn't given a prayer by the golfing community. But the Ohio-born star produced the performance of his life, beating off competition from Thomas Bjorn to get his hands on the Claret Jug - and £700,000 in prize money. Many of Curtis' former peers on the PGA Tour have made their way to Royal Liverpool this week for the latest edition of The Open. But the 46-year-old remains at home in Ohio - having hung up his clubs in 2017. Curtis went on to win three further PGA Tour events after his Open triumph and was part of the US' victorious 2008 Ryder Cup squad. But he could never re-conjure the magic of 2003 in a Major. Since turning his back on professional golf Curtis has gone down an unusual route for a former superstar - by coaching a high school team. Curtis and wife Candace have two children together - with the former Open winner eventually roped in to coaching his son. 4 Curtis won three further PGA Tour events after his major success Credit: Getty Speaking to the New York Times, he revealed: "My son was on the team, and the coach decided to retire. "I got a call from the athletic director and I was like, 'Well, who do you have in mind?' And they were like, 'You, and that's it.' "I asked them to take a couple of days and try to find someone. I didn't want to put that pressure on my son, but he was like, 'coach, Dad, coach.'" Since his 2017 retirement, Curtis has also been running an academy in his native state. On when he decided that life on tour was no longer for him){kind=link}
BEN CURTIS stunned the world by winning The Open in 2003 while ranked 396th in the world.
The American went into the event, his Major debut, as a huge outsider at 500/1.
In a field including greats like Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo – Curtis wasn’t given a prayer by the golfing community.
But the Ohio-born star produced the performance of his life, beating off competition from Thomas Bjorn to get his hands on the Claret Jug – and £700,000 in prize money.
Many of Curtis’ former peers on the PGA Tour have made their way to Royal Liverpool this week for the latest edition of The Open.