Rory McILROY may be a hot favourite for this week's Open at Sandwich, but the last man to lift the Claret Jug at the Kent venue believes 130 players can win on Sunday.
Ben Curtis was ranked 396th in the world and making his first appearance in any major championship when he triumphed at Royal St George's in 2003.
So the American is well placed to judge how many of the 156-strong field who will tee off on Thursday stand a chance of claiming victory and the £900,000 first prize.
"There's probably 130 guys that could win," insisted Curtis, who is now ranked 194th in the world. "Twenty may not be feeling well or their game is really bad, but pretty much anyone can."
Eight years ago, Thomas Bjorn was three shots ahead of the field with four to play, only to finish bogey, double-bogey, bogey, par and end up one shot behind.
It looked as though Bjorn would not be given the chance to exorcise those demons last week when he was just sixth reserve for a place in the field, but after numerous withdrawals, the Dane was up to first reserve yesterday when Vijay Singh also pulled out through injury.
Ben Curtis was ranked 396th in the world and making his first appearance in any major championship when he triumphed at Royal St George's in 2003.
So the American is well placed to judge how many of the 156-strong field who will tee off on Thursday stand a chance of claiming victory and the £900,000 first prize.
"There's probably 130 guys that could win," insisted Curtis, who is now ranked 194th in the world. "Twenty may not be feeling well or their game is really bad, but pretty much anyone can."
Eight years ago, Thomas Bjorn was three shots ahead of the field with four to play, only to finish bogey, double-bogey, bogey, par and end up one shot behind.
It looked as though Bjorn would not be given the chance to exorcise those demons last week when he was just sixth reserve for a place in the field, but after numerous withdrawals, the Dane was up to first reserve yesterday when Vijay Singh also pulled out through injury.
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