Wednesday, June 28 2006 14:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Potomac: Former British Open winner Ben Curtis made two bogeys early Tuesday for a one-under-par round of 70 to earn a five-shot win in the rain-hit Booz Allen Classic. It was the first Tuesday finish on the PGA Tour in 26 years, but it was worth the wait for Curtis.

"It's a great feeling. I feel about as good as I did when I won the Open," Curtis said.

"It was just amazing that we got this done. It's a great feeling," he said.

He won for the first time since he captured the 2003 British Open at Royal St. George's, one of the biggest upsets in golf history, and found validation with a wire-to-wire victory stretched over six days.

Curtis had a seven-shot lead and was on the 17th hole facing a 28-foot par putt when play was suspended Monday evening because of heavy rain.

He returned Tuesday morning to make bogey, then finished with another bogey on the 18th to wind up at 20-under 264, one short of the tournament record.

He finished five shots ahead of Billy Andrade (64), Padraig Harrington (66), Nick O'Hern (67) and Steve Stricker (68).

Not since the Tucson Open in 1980 has the winner been crowned on a Tuesday. Curtis carded a four on the par-3 17th and five on No. 18 to complete his final round.

"It's a fantastic week golf-wise," Curtis said.

"I played probably the best I've ever played for three rounds and 16 holes. Then the last two were a little strange but it was just a great week of golf," he said.

Curtis captured 900,000 dollars and a two-year exemption with the victory.

"My primary goal this year was to play better again and to become more consistent," Curtis said. "I've done that. I want to continue that," he said.