HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C., April 15 (UPI) -- Reigning British Open champion Ben Curtis vaulted into contention at the Heritage Thursday with an opening-round, 3-under 68.
Curtis had four birdies and a bogey on a breezy day at the Harbor Town Links as he tries to make his first splash since stunning the golf world with his major title last summer.
He has missed the cut in five of his last eight tournaments.
The lead was owned by Cameron Beckman, who shot a 67. Tied with Curtis in second place were Jay Haas, Heath Slocum, Jonathan Byrd and Rod Pampling.
Seeking his second win in six PGA Tour seasons, Beckman made a pair of 20-foot birdie putts and a 40-footer. Last week, he worked on his putting at home.
"I'm so excited the way I putted today, it's scary," he said. "I had a putting green put in my backyard and I spent all week on it last week, and hopefully it will pay off."
